Leanna's been looking through old posts again........the ending for this one made me laugh! So I thought I'd post it again:
Monday, February 13, 2006
comic relief
I sit, rocking the baby to sleep. Justin slumbers quietly on the couch. Tom watches tv. Leanna breaks the peace and relative silence, running over to me and yelling excitedly, "Mommy guess what! I was counting my toes....."
At this point I begin laughing hysterically and Tom begins grinning. I can't stop laughing, it just strikes me funny that she was sitting there, counting her toes. And she's so excited about it! She goes on to show me that she has seven toes-Tom prods for more information and she shows him how she counts them. (One, two three, four, seven!) and then she counts the other foot(one, two three, four, five!), the first foot just mysteriously has seven toes, I guess. This kid's been counting since 18 months, but the practical application still eludes her sometimes. Then Tom asks her what comes after two million. She gives him one of those, Oh Daddy! looks and says, "I don't know. You guess."
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sweetness, peace, and ELO
Sitting here, Lorelei's sleeping in my arms......I'm just a puddle of mush-she's smiling in her sleep. So sweet and warm, all cuddled & curled up in my arms. She smiles a lot. I'm on an ELO kick right now, they have a lot of mellow stuff that can help put a baby to sleep. (They also do the opposite, with stuff like Don't Bring me Down, Do Ya, Blue Sky, etc. that are very upbeat so that's good for when she's awake) I figure the music can help drown out the background noise here.
We're at a point now where she very clearly knows me and her Dad. Not sure if she recognizes the kids yet, maybe Leanna. The amount of love and adoration she was just born into-she's so lucky in that respect. I can't buy her the latest toys or clothes, take her on great vacations, and yeah it makes life hard-but good lord, is she surrounded by love. That has to count for something too.
We're at a point now where she very clearly knows me and her Dad. Not sure if she recognizes the kids yet, maybe Leanna. The amount of love and adoration she was just born into-she's so lucky in that respect. I can't buy her the latest toys or clothes, take her on great vacations, and yeah it makes life hard-but good lord, is she surrounded by love. That has to count for something too.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Everything will be more expensive!
Just what we need!!
Food, gas, coffee, chocolate.......now diapers & wipes! The price of everything is going up!
Food, gas, coffee, chocolate.......now diapers & wipes! The price of everything is going up!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Men's Undies, etc.
First, a 2009 article:
Guys, if you want to know where the economy is headed next, look in your underwear drawer.
"By extension, pent-up demand means underwear sales should be among the early risers when growth returns and consumers feel confident enough to shrug off "frugal fatigue," says Marshal Cohen, the chief industry analyst with NPD Group, which tracks consumer behavior.....While economists now track sales, hemlines served as an oddball indicator for much of the previous century. In tough times, the experts muse, hemlines drop as an expression of conservatism, only to rise again as the markets hit go-go mode. During the late-1990s boom, the hemline indicator was supplanted by a midriff meter, as more women bared their stomachs as the popularity of tech stocks (and Britney Spears) peaked.. "
Now:
Shares of Hanesbrands, Warnaco, Limited and Maidenform are thriving, and two analysts see higher underwear sales as a sign the economy is recovering.
Although I heard somewhere that you should buy underwear now because the price of cotton is going up.
Also, I just like this sentence:
Even during the 2008 downturn, "the underwear area was very strong," Eric Beder, retail analyst at Brean Murray Carret, told CNBC Thursday."
: )
Guys, if you want to know where the economy is headed next, look in your underwear drawer.
"By extension, pent-up demand means underwear sales should be among the early risers when growth returns and consumers feel confident enough to shrug off "frugal fatigue," says Marshal Cohen, the chief industry analyst with NPD Group, which tracks consumer behavior.....While economists now track sales, hemlines served as an oddball indicator for much of the previous century. In tough times, the experts muse, hemlines drop as an expression of conservatism, only to rise again as the markets hit go-go mode. During the late-1990s boom, the hemline indicator was supplanted by a midriff meter, as more women bared their stomachs as the popularity of tech stocks (and Britney Spears) peaked.. "
Now:
Shares of Hanesbrands, Warnaco, Limited and Maidenform are thriving, and two analysts see higher underwear sales as a sign the economy is recovering.
Although I heard somewhere that you should buy underwear now because the price of cotton is going up.
Also, I just like this sentence:
Even during the 2008 downturn, "the underwear area was very strong," Eric Beder, retail analyst at Brean Murray Carret, told CNBC Thursday."
: )
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Comparison
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| Justin |
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| Leanna and Justin |
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| Timothy |
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| Timothy |
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| Jacob |
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| Jacob |
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| Me |
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| Lorelei |
Thursday, April 21, 2011
a few links....
A few links:
An article on Mythbusters being the best science show on tv precisely because it doesn't claim to be one.
One on web photos revealing where you live, work, etc.....and there's an app for it too
One on the gov't asking why iphones are tracking you since June 2010.
"Apple's iOS 4 operating system is secretly compiling its customers' location data in a file stored on iPhones, 3G iPads and every computer that users use to "sync" their devices. According to the researchers, this file contains consumers' latitude and longitude for every day they used an iPhone or 3G iPad running the iOS 4 operating system — sometimes logging their precise geo-location up to 100 times a day. The researchers who discovered this file found that it contained up to a year's worth of data, starting from the day they installed the iOS4 operating system. What is even more worrisome is that this file is stored in an unencrypted format on customers' iPads, iPhones and every computer a customer has used to back up his or her information.".........Of course, all smartphones track users — anyone who's ever approved an app request to use his or her current location should have that figured out. The big reveal here is that Apple stores that information on devices, unencrypted and for an entire year."
An article on Mythbusters being the best science show on tv precisely because it doesn't claim to be one.
One on web photos revealing where you live, work, etc.....and there's an app for it too
One on the gov't asking why iphones are tracking you since June 2010.
"Apple's iOS 4 operating system is secretly compiling its customers' location data in a file stored on iPhones, 3G iPads and every computer that users use to "sync" their devices. According to the researchers, this file contains consumers' latitude and longitude for every day they used an iPhone or 3G iPad running the iOS 4 operating system — sometimes logging their precise geo-location up to 100 times a day. The researchers who discovered this file found that it contained up to a year's worth of data, starting from the day they installed the iOS4 operating system. What is even more worrisome is that this file is stored in an unencrypted format on customers' iPads, iPhones and every computer a customer has used to back up his or her information.".........Of course, all smartphones track users — anyone who's ever approved an app request to use his or her current location should have that figured out. The big reveal here is that Apple stores that information on devices, unencrypted and for an entire year."
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday-beautiful weather
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| They planted some seeds with Grammy since it was so nice outside. |
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| Jacob enjoyed the feel of the dirt, he buried some cars and trucks in the backyard. |
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| My Mom made some healthy soup-so I'll have something more nutrious to eat that I don't have to make myself. |
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| I made 2 batches of lemon bars-gone as of yesterday! |
Tonight was chocolate chip cookies, at Tom's request.
Drilling, reading, slinging!
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| Helping Daddy make a workbench |
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| I couldn't resist a picture of this-she's got the baby, the dog, two stuffed animals and a book all snuggled together in the chair! |
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| One of his favorite topics ever-garbage trucks! |
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| All curled up in the sling! It's actually starting to fade now-we've had it since Leanna was nine months old. |
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight
Why not make your own Turkish delight this Christmas, maybe as an extra present from you to you!
Ingredients:
1 lb. (450g) granulated sugar
quarter pint (150ml) water
juice of one lemon
half an ounce (13g) powdered gelatine
1 level tbsp. cornflour
2 tbsps. icing sugar, sifted
pink food colouring
few drops of rose water
Cooking Instructions:
Soak the gelatine in half the water
Pour the remaining water into a saucepan, add the sugar and heat gently while stirring until the sugar is dissolved
Add softened gelatine and stir into the syrup
Simmer gently for 20 minutes then add the lemon juice
Pour half the mixture into one of 2 wetted, small square tins, tins should be small enough for Turkish delight to be one inch thick
Add 2 drops of pink colouring and a few drops of rose water to the remaining mixture, stir well and pour into the remaining tin
Leave for 24 hours in the fridge to set
Mix the icing sugar and cornflour together in a polythene bag
Dust hands with this mixture and pull Turkish delight from the tins
Cut into 1 inch (2.5cm) strips and then into cubes
Toss the cubes in icing sugar mixture
Sunday, April 10, 2011
LOL
A new book How to Crack an Egg with One Hand by Francesca Beauman collects some unorthodox words of wisdom for parents.
In 1861, Mrs Beeton issued instructions that breastfeeding mums should knock back two pints of stout a day.
William Cobbette suggested that parents should sing loudly while they give their infants an ice cold bath for an hour every day.
Others might prefer the approach of the renowned philosopher John Locke. He said it was possible to increase the strength of a newborn by holding slices of steak next to its bottom and pouring wine over its head.
In 1861, Mrs Beeton issued instructions that breastfeeding mums should knock back two pints of stout a day.
William Cobbette suggested that parents should sing loudly while they give their infants an ice cold bath for an hour every day.
Others might prefer the approach of the renowned philosopher John Locke. He said it was possible to increase the strength of a newborn by holding slices of steak next to its bottom and pouring wine over its head.
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Bath
Jacob's fascinated with his sister's big belly. It's a normal newborn thing, but he's just amazed.
What to do with dried cherries?
Length of Gestation
Today I found anthropologist, scientist, & humanist Ashley Montague's theory which makes a lot of sense to me. He said that Humans have an 18 month gestational period-9 months inside and 9 months outside. This theory fits in with what I've read on human infant development and research on things like skin to skin contact. I don't think it should be used as yet another way for Moms to feel guilty (if you have to work or have outside commitments the baby won't be held as much by the Mother) I hate when people do that. It's not productive and it keeps people from even trying to use the information. I think we should take from this the idea that humans need to gradually adjust to life outside the womb-and this adjustment period is meant to include as much touching and holding by (primarily) Mom and hopefully the father and other family/friends as is possible. This is normal, and ideal.
Excerpt from the article:
"Us human moms also don't have nearly as many natural instincts as other mammals -- we kiss our newborns which is similar in instinct to grooming, but much of the stimulation to the nerves that animal grooming provides is actually done with our labor process. So the skin-on-skin bonding time, and breastfeeding, and closeness between the human mommy and the newborn is our way of mimicking a lot of mammalian reactions.
We're hardwired to instantly want to comfort our babies and our breasts even tell us right away when a baby cries that WE need to go to them and feed them and comfort them. We're not designed to be separated from our babies, ladies! In fact, there are some cultures where babies are literally never allowed to touch the ground until they're 8 months old, which is around the time babies can crawl around independently, and also become aware that they are a unique entity and not an extension of you.
That time, 9 months old or so, is when Montagu says human babies are considered full-term by all physiological standards. By the end of the first year, the baby's brain has more than doubled in size and is approximately 60 percent of it's full adult size, and baby humans are finally about as capable as newborns of other species. About the only other animals that have such "premature" babies are kangaroos and other primates, who if you remember, carry their infants non-stop for long periods of time. Many monkeys continue to breastfeed, even without solids, into their second year, some into 4-5 years."
Excerpt from the article:
"Us human moms also don't have nearly as many natural instincts as other mammals -- we kiss our newborns which is similar in instinct to grooming, but much of the stimulation to the nerves that animal grooming provides is actually done with our labor process. So the skin-on-skin bonding time, and breastfeeding, and closeness between the human mommy and the newborn is our way of mimicking a lot of mammalian reactions.
We're hardwired to instantly want to comfort our babies and our breasts even tell us right away when a baby cries that WE need to go to them and feed them and comfort them. We're not designed to be separated from our babies, ladies! In fact, there are some cultures where babies are literally never allowed to touch the ground until they're 8 months old, which is around the time babies can crawl around independently, and also become aware that they are a unique entity and not an extension of you.
That time, 9 months old or so, is when Montagu says human babies are considered full-term by all physiological standards. By the end of the first year, the baby's brain has more than doubled in size and is approximately 60 percent of it's full adult size, and baby humans are finally about as capable as newborns of other species. About the only other animals that have such "premature" babies are kangaroos and other primates, who if you remember, carry their infants non-stop for long periods of time. Many monkeys continue to breastfeed, even without solids, into their second year, some into 4-5 years."
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
This is what I'm shooting for........
Seriously, this is so sweet, I could cry (I'm also in a hormonal post-partum state though). This is the kind of sibling behavior I'm hoping to establish!
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Tips for being a Welcomed New Baby Visitor
I just saw this, and not surprisingly, could relate. 6 Tips for Being a Welcomed New Baby Visitor
It's mostly moot for me, I don't know people who make food and come over with offers to help,(except my Mom! she does help-this is not posted as criticism of anyone. Just something I can relate to right now) but in theory these people exist, and this list is a good reminder. I think I would add to the list that the new Mom has been waiting a very long time to meet and hold this baby, and so has the new Dad, so squabbles over who else gets to hold the baby and in what order, only add to her troubles during a very emotional and exhausting period. Sometimes when you hand the baby to someone, it does not reflect your belief that that person is #1 on the list to hold the baby, it merely reflects the fact that they were standing next to you starting you down with an intensity that could melt plastic! (Ok, so this part is actually something I've experienced).
LOL.
It's mostly moot for me, I don't know people who make food and come over with offers to help,(except my Mom! she does help-this is not posted as criticism of anyone. Just something I can relate to right now) but in theory these people exist, and this list is a good reminder. I think I would add to the list that the new Mom has been waiting a very long time to meet and hold this baby, and so has the new Dad, so squabbles over who else gets to hold the baby and in what order, only add to her troubles during a very emotional and exhausting period. Sometimes when you hand the baby to someone, it does not reflect your belief that that person is #1 on the list to hold the baby, it merely reflects the fact that they were standing next to you starting you down with an intensity that could melt plastic! (Ok, so this part is actually something I've experienced).
LOL.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Another use for the Boppy Pillow
(Poor Jacob with the excema spots on his face, he keeps picking them open. Lorelie had newborn rash and Jacob looked at her and said, She has excema too! But it's not excema, although the doctor tells me they actually look the same under a microscope, there is no corelation with the rash and developing excema later.
Pink pimples ('neonatal acne') are often caused by exposure in the womb to maternal hormones. No treatment is needed, just time. They can last for weeks or even months on a baby's skin.
Erythema toxicum is another common newborn rash that looks like mosquito bites or hives. Its cause is unknown, and it resolves without treatment after a few days or weeks)
More substance!
From the useless knowledge widget on my sidebar:
The largest cell in the human body is the female ovum, or egg cell. It is about 1/180 inch in diameter. The smallest cell in the human body is the male sperm. It takes about 175,000 sperm cells to weigh as much as a single egg cell. Hence, even in the beginning, women have more substance than men.
The largest cell in the human body is the female ovum, or egg cell. It is about 1/180 inch in diameter. The smallest cell in the human body is the male sperm. It takes about 175,000 sperm cells to weigh as much as a single egg cell. Hence, even in the beginning, women have more substance than men.
He's done it again!
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| Hastily composed note to the Tooth Fairy. I had trouble writing it down as fast as Justin told me what he wanted to say! He had switched spots where he was sleeping so that may be why the tooth fairy forgot to come last night. Or it could have had something to do with Lorelei having her first rough night and Mommy falling asleep with her contacts in she was so exhausted. There's that too. |
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| I am amazed how much this picture looks like Timothy-but it's not-this is Justin showing his missing teeth. |
My favorite stage
Another old Parentdish article I found while looking for the one on having four kids by accident. In this one, the blogger confesses that while she loves her own kids, she doesn't much like babies. She reasones that it has to do with issues of control.
She says, "I think it may have something to do with my need to control things. If there's one thing you can't control, it's a baby. When they say the only things you can be sure of in life are death and taxes, they should add that you can also be 100 percent sure that you can't make a baby do anything. Not nap. Not sleep through the night. Not eat baby food. NOT if they don't want to.
In fact, I found my babies were likely to do the opposite of whatever I wanted them to do. I didn't want my son to have a pacifier, so he was obsessed with it. I wanted my daughter to take a passie once in a while, so of course she always spit it out. Is it me? Do I send out baby radar that says "Don't trust me. Whatever I say, don't do it?"
I freely admitt I have my own issues with control, but I am the exact opposite. I sometimes wonder if most people who want large famililies have the same affliction I do-babylove. I adore babies. Can't get enough of them. My husband too. Personally, I'm most at ease in this phase of parenting. I feel completely confident with a baby. No doubts that I'm doing it wrong or could have done better. As they get older a lot more doubt creeps in and can make you question your sanity. But for me, babies are pure bliss. Sure there's all the sleep deprivation and stuff......but it's outweighed by far with the adorableness and love. Little baby dimples. Newborn gestures. Milky smiles. The oh so soft skin. The way a newborn's body is still all curled up. The possibilities. Just sheer joy. Breastfed diapers don't even smell that bad til they start eating solids!
Don't get me wrong-each phase seems to have it's own challenges and rewards. But so far there is no phase that I don't like-it's just that the baby stage is my favorite.
Then again, I've yet to experience parenting a teenager, so I may eventually have to change that last sentence!
She says, "I think it may have something to do with my need to control things. If there's one thing you can't control, it's a baby. When they say the only things you can be sure of in life are death and taxes, they should add that you can also be 100 percent sure that you can't make a baby do anything. Not nap. Not sleep through the night. Not eat baby food. NOT if they don't want to.
In fact, I found my babies were likely to do the opposite of whatever I wanted them to do. I didn't want my son to have a pacifier, so he was obsessed with it. I wanted my daughter to take a passie once in a while, so of course she always spit it out. Is it me? Do I send out baby radar that says "Don't trust me. Whatever I say, don't do it?"
I freely admitt I have my own issues with control, but I am the exact opposite. I sometimes wonder if most people who want large famililies have the same affliction I do-babylove. I adore babies. Can't get enough of them. My husband too. Personally, I'm most at ease in this phase of parenting. I feel completely confident with a baby. No doubts that I'm doing it wrong or could have done better. As they get older a lot more doubt creeps in and can make you question your sanity. But for me, babies are pure bliss. Sure there's all the sleep deprivation and stuff......but it's outweighed by far with the adorableness and love. Little baby dimples. Newborn gestures. Milky smiles. The oh so soft skin. The way a newborn's body is still all curled up. The possibilities. Just sheer joy. Breastfed diapers don't even smell that bad til they start eating solids!
Don't get me wrong-each phase seems to have it's own challenges and rewards. But so far there is no phase that I don't like-it's just that the baby stage is my favorite.
Then again, I've yet to experience parenting a teenager, so I may eventually have to change that last sentence!
If it's meant to be, it'll happen......
I was looking for a Parentdish article I'd read a while back where the blogger posts about how she had four kids by accident. It's really shockingly easy to do. Technically the only "planned" child we've had was Justin! And though it's hard to imagine now, I was not particularly thrilled to find I was pregnant with Jacob-I was not ready for another baby at that point! We can't imagine life without him now, and I'm so glad that he came. I like the article, we're not coming from the exact same place-she didn't even want one kid-but she makes some good points about how scheduled and planned we seem to feel life needs to be, and I like her conclusion:
"But if my kids weren't surprises, then I'm not sure I would have had them at all. Sometimes the universe knows better than we do.
Accidents happen. Condoms break.
And for that I'm thankful. Four times over."
EDIT: I like this from the comments on the article, very true: " it just wasn't a good time for another baby financially. When I called my mom in tears she told me this wasn't an accident, It was a surprise. She said "A surpise is something you didn't know you wanted until you get it and then you can't imagine not having it".
"But if my kids weren't surprises, then I'm not sure I would have had them at all. Sometimes the universe knows better than we do.
Accidents happen. Condoms break.
And for that I'm thankful. Four times over."
EDIT: I like this from the comments on the article, very true: " it just wasn't a good time for another baby financially. When I called my mom in tears she told me this wasn't an accident, It was a surprise. She said "A surpise is something you didn't know you wanted until you get it and then you can't imagine not having it".
Saturday, April 02, 2011
So loved!
She's so cute that Tom made a request for Irish Twins!
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