Selfies

Makes my day to find such foolishness on my phone.

Pajama Day

Both boys love pajama days.  I appreciate that we are able to declare random Mondays pajama days, especially with the polar vortex pushing into the city.

What we didn't do:  get dressed.

What we did:  puzzles, trains, read lots of books, sculpt with clay, create a fort, write thank you notes, snuggle, gaze out the window, play Candyland and Go Fish.

It makes me quite sad to think pajama days will be no more come fall and kindergarten.

Where y'at?

We've been

• Visiting with grandparents
• Going to birthday parties
• Strolling the boardwalk at Coney Island
• Riding the subway
• Checking out the aquarium
• Enjoying the fall weather
• Purging closets and dressers making room for sweaters and jeans
• Opening the windows

We haven't been:

• Taking pictures
• Responding to emails
• Grocery shopping
• Returning phone calls
• Sitting at the computer

We're planning on:

• Cooking soup
• Picking apples
• Bike riding
• Baking
• Fall cleaning
• Roasting pumpkin seeds
• Hosting a play date

10 Things

Running to beat the timer.  Maybe Santa will bring me a remote.

1. The leaves have finally begun to change.
2. Getting a family photo with everyone looking at the camera is impossible.
3. Charlie told me my roots needed retouching after we took pictures, so even if everyone had been looking at the camera, we'd have scrapped the photo.
4. Charlie died my hair while watching football on Saturday night.
5. Hans just might have gained 1 pound in a week.
6. Hans has had apples and banana and this week we're moving on to carrots.
7. Freddie chooses showers over baths lately. 
8. Charlie is addicted to Angry Birds.
9. No one took advantage of the extra hour of sleep this weekend.
10. Freddie's decided he's going to ask Santa for a rubber duckie.

Rainy Day

Yesterday was a cold and rainy day.  We baked a cake...

Freddie discovered the yumminess that is cake batter.

We decorated it, and ate more candy than we actually put on.

We visited the library and read Maisy books...in Spanish.  The Daddy translated later that night at bedtime.  Yep, this was about the only time he wore clothes yesterday.  He strips as soon as we walk in the door.

We played Candyland.

 

We made a pumpkin decoration with construction paper and glue.  Yes, his undies are on backwards, but he's putting them on by himself so we're just going with it for now. 

Mama sure slept well after all that.  And as much *fun* as it was, I am not looking forward to the long winter days, weeks, months that are right around the corner.  I'm going to need to up my game and get creative to keep everyone smiling. Please, please, please send kid friendly recipes, crafts, and game ideas.  And make it quick.  We've got our first snow (a light dusting) predicted for the weekend!

Around Here

• Freddie and Mama have fevers which have been climbing over the past 24 hours.  I'm hoping not to see the 104 the thermometer read this afternoon again.
• I dusted off the trusty old breast pump.
• I got 12+ hours sleep on Friday, and felt great until nap time on Saturday when I needed more sleep.  Could do that every single night. 
• The swelling in my hands is getting worse.  Working feeling back into my right hand and arm in the morning has brought me to tears the past two mornings.  It is that bad.
• I gained 3 pounds overnight.  Swelling I imagine.  Probably the cause of the pain in my arms reaching a new high.
• My hospital bag is packed.
• The weather has been warm and sunny.  Freddie and I went out to the playground a bunch last week, but this week I think we'll lay low and get healthy.
• I take back everything I said about wanting this baby to cook as long as he sees fit.  I want him out now.
• The postpartum helper visits seem to be coming together.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
• We still don't have a name.  We talked about it though. 
• Newborn diapers have been ordered. 
• Charlie's been putting in lots of hours at work.
• Most everything left on my "to do" list involves cleaning.  Not feeling too hopeful about it all getting done. 
• I want to get some posts up about Freddie real soon.  I feel like he's changing and developing so quickly.
• And did I metion that Tummy Brother is still nameless?

Blogger Issues

Blogger has been working out some kinks, as I understand.  I am hoping my Cool Zoo post gets republished in the next 24 hours, but if not I'll work to recreate it as well as get up some additional posts. 

It's the little things

Freddie and I have been checking in on these eagles and their chicks a few times a day.  The live 24 hour stream usually consists of the Mama eagle snuggling with the chicks, but sometimes we luck out and see both the Mama and Daddy there or someone flying off or the chicks getting fed.  The chicks were born in early April, and there are some links to previous video so you can watch the hatchings. 

Regardless of what's going on, Freddie's interested.  He talks about the "cute babies" or the Mama's beak or their feathers blowing around in the wind.  He's developing quite the birder vocabulary.  Watching these chicks transform will provide some interesting observations I'm sure. 

Freddie LOVES these eagles, and I LOVE those few moments here and there throughout the day where we stop to watch together. 

We've Moved!

If you haven't yet received our new address, send your contact info ASAP.  Getting things ready for the holiday season mailings.

Tipping

Was I supposed to tip the Fresh Direct delivery guy?  Didn't think of that until after the fact. 

I tip 20% at restaurants for good service.  Wait staff makes less than minimum wage with the understanding they are earning their cash.   I tip drivers delivering my supper, especially if it's raining,  but I think they are making more than a waiter so what's the standard tip?  Is it a percentage of the meal?  Can the driver really provide you with excellent service deserving of an above average tip?

But does a bartender really need that obligatory buck for popping the cap off my beer?  But if he muddles the bitter and sugar cube to create a perfect Sazerac do I tip the dollar most give for opening a beer or a percentage or more?

What about Starbucks?  Tip on my iced coffee and soy or just some perfectly frothed skim milk?

I've been thinking about tipping a lot lately since we now live in a city with lots of "services" provided.  Everything can be picked up and delivered.  Everything.

So help me out here:

• What do you tip at a bar?  Is that always or it depends?
• What do you tip at a coffee shop?
• What do you tip at a salon or barber?  What if they own the salon?
• What do you tip the guy who picks up your laundry?  And do you tip when he delivers it as well?
• What do you tip for bagels delivered?
• What do you tip for Chinese food delivered in the rain at 11pm?  Is it different if it is delivered on a sunny afternoon?
• What do you tip for a manicure?  Or a pedicure? Is it a flat amount or a percentage?
• What do you tip the cab driver?  
• What do you tip a tour guide?
• What do you tip a waiter?
• What do you tip movers?
• And do I tip the guy delivering my groceries from Fresh Direct?
• Is this a regional thing?  Does the etiquette vary by region?
• Who else are you tipping?

Around here

Evening Walk, Roosevelt Island on the left, Manhattan on the right

• Freddie and I have figured out our routine.  It includes morning and afternoon trips to one of the playgrounds on the island.  I am just about ready to add "field trips" to our days.  
• Monday mornings will include going to the Moms' group so Freddie can play with the 35+ toddlers that attend.
• Wednesday mornings will include story time at the library on the island.  I think I may seek out other library story times in the city and add these to my list of potential field trips.
• I ordered a dresser online marked down 80%.  Style is not perfect, but the price is right.  The alternative in our price range (cheap!) was something from IKEA but Charlie doesn't have much time for furniture assembly these days.  Fingers crossed the "back ordered" dresser eventually ships.
• I'd still like another storage piece in our bedroom.  There is room, but I am not sure how to take advantage of the space cheaply and keep it aesthetically pleasing.
• We're working on getting a big boy bed for Freddie with a trundle that will double as a guest bed.
• My feelings about New York still stand as a nice place to visit, but not sure I want to live there.  I'm working on making this a three (or four) year visit. 
• Charlie's a bit overwhelmed.  He's trying to put in longer hours with a new job, keep up with the 70+ hour weeks his colleagues put in, finish corrections and binding of his dissertation, and have dinner with his family each night.  And occasionally get some sleep.
• Fall, what's fall?  I think it's arrived.  The temperatures are cooler, the windows remain open, and I'm pulling out the fleece.
• The camera is out so I should be taking more pictures.  That means more regular posting.

Southern Boy

Thank goodness llbean had some fleece on clearance.  

My poor little guy is swimming in the 12-18 month size.

Here's my boy, wearing fleece footed pajamas in the middle of J-u-l-y.

While I find the temperatures to be lovely, even in the 90s, here in Denver the locals are whining about the heat.  Please, people.  Lemme give you a shot of humidity and show you what hot really is.

But as the sun goes down, us southern folk get chilly and do our share of whining.  I'm kicking myself for not bringing my flannel pjs, but seriously, who would have thought that I'd want them in July while sleeping under a fleece blanket?

My oh my, we've got it coming this winter, don't we?

To do:

• Finish Mardi Gras costumes, incorporate black and gold
• Get king cakes
• Mardi Gras food: poboy fixins, bloody mary fixins, Zapps and other junk food
• Finishing touches on the ladder chair, make it cozy
  
• Order keg of Abita Amber
  
• Call for port a potty to be delivered 2.4.10
• Pick up Jazzfest tickets before $120 weekend prices run out
• Superbowl food: burgers and fixins (or pulled pork and ribs?)
  
• Take 2009-2010 Saints tickets to be framed in a collage

It's an only in New Orleans list, and I couldn't be happier about it.

Phone Home

Trying to reach us?

We no longer have a home phone. It rarely rang but Charlie hated to give it up since it was his phone number since college...but he didn't want to change his cell phone number either.

Well, we're looking for ways to cut back with Bug as our new expense, so the phone is going. $30 per month in our pocket to spend on other things. Trying to figure what else we can live without. I want to hold on to the gym and housekeeper year round, but we'll see.

Weekend Roundup

Friday night date night on the couch

• A Christmas themed date night was planned for Friday night, but I was too cold to get out at City Park and look at the lights. We did however feast at Martinique Bistro, one of our new favorite neighborhood restaurants.
• I've adopted a new sleep schedule: 7pm to 7 am. Still doesn't seem like enough time in bed.
• Charlie got the all clear from the doctor. Although the ultrasound indicated some inflammation of the pancreas, this was not confirmed by the CT scan. So, he's just keeping his fingers crossed that the symptoms were short lived and won't return.
• I love Burt's Mama Bee Belly Butter. Does wonders for the itching.
• A huge swath of ginger was cut back in the yard and hauled away to the dump. No more snow, please.
• Charlie seemed a bit surprised (a little panicked perhaps) yesterday when I told him we had 68 days until Um Ba-bay's arrival date.
• I bought a rug for the boy's room. (No comments on it being "too feminine" from the peanut gallery.) Evidently the rug went on clearance, unbeknownst to me, but after calling several stores, I finally found one and it's being shipped.
  

I need them!

2 years ago Charlie gave me some swank black leather gloves for Christmas. I lost them the first time I wore them.

1 year ago I bought some cheap leather gloves. I also got a nice pair for Christmas from JD. Today, I have no recollection of losing either pair, but I cannot find them. They're lost.

Charlie says I'm not responsible enough for a another pair of leather gloves. Sigh.

But an email from Mark describes the current weather in NYC as "unforgiving for November."

He probably won't even notice the 4th pair I'll wear all week. Or maybe I'll end up with a 5th pair before leaving the city.

On my mind

Today Lizzy put words to my condition. Monkey brain...too much chatter to focus on anything. And all that chatter is difficult to put into posts. A lot of that chatter revolves around issues of pregnancy, and that too is something I have a hard time talking about and an even harder time putting here for fear that I may find it difficult to read in a few weeks.

But, in an effort to organize the chatter and document our life, here's the conversation occurring right now....

• I haven't gained any weight. In fact, I've lost 2 pounds. Muscle turning to fat? Regardless, that shall change shortly as two gallons of ice cream have entered the house.

• There's a lump above my pubic bone. I can feel it when I stand, but not when I lie down. I was thinking it was my uterus, but after seeing the placenta developing in the anterior position, I've decided it's actually the placenta. There's really something in there.
  

• If Katie Holmes had an ultrasound machine at home, so should I. Charlie also should have Tom Cruise's pocketbook. After letting go of that, I decided I'd settle for buying a doppler and hearing the heartbeat each day. Now I'm thinking that idea should be let go of as well because the anterior placenta placement will most likely impede hearing the heartbeat for some time. If only I could accept that I will not know when the heartbeat will stop.

• Don't look at the toilets. Merry Maids will be here soon enough, and surely their price will be within budget.

• The futon, wing chair, bike stand, and wine rack need to go. A few posts on craigslist could bring a couple hundred dollars, but I don't feel like dealing with it.
  

• I'd gladly trade bleeding for puking. I understand a polyp will become easily irritated and bleed, but red bleeding after lying in bed for 8 hours makes me have a hard time thinking "it's just the polyp".

• Work. My part time job begins a week long training tomorrow, and then will be in full swing by early September, with full time job beginning on August 6th. I'm nervous about handling extra work and stress. The extra 10K would be nice, but not sure if it's worth it. But if it's not, do I even have it in me to say I am unable to perform the job responsibilities at the level which is expected?

• A walk in the park would do wonders for my mind and body. Maybe Wii fit would help.
  

• Will I really be nine months pregnant in a Mardi Gras costume?
  

Life with Charlie

He takes me to all the best places, and we have a hoot with each and every stop. And the dump is no exception. It is one place I always love, really, really love, going and probably would have never managed to lay eyes on without Charlie. Really, truly love going. I had no idea that it was even a place people drive in to before meeting Charlie!

I love going to the "transfer station" and going to the full fledged dump is even better.

Backing up to the dumpsters

There seemed to be a time when we were hitting the dump several times a month...dumping, not retrieving items. Although I do see some people leaving with more than they bring! I'm all about reduce, reuse, recylce but when you actually see the amount of stuff in the dumpsters at the transfer station, the endless line of people there to dump, or you pull up next to the bulldozer covered in gulls as you unload at the landfill it really opens your eyes to the problem we face with waste.

The dumpsters seem to stay full. A truck leaving the landfill drives by.

I am always amazed by how much we throw away. I like to look for a while at the people (good people watching) to see what they're getting rid of. Still lots of remodel rubbish from flooding no doubt, but people also toss bicycles, furniture, books, and many other things that could have found another home.

I am supposed to be getting my gloves on to help as he begins to unload the trailer of branches.

I tried to get some photos this time, but had to be quick, because I know it's hard to believe, but Charlie is often not amused by my attempts to photo document everything. I could probably do an entire post filled with pictures of him rolling his eyes. Smile.

You decide

Lobster belt or crawfish belt?

It's all about the gear

A few old Nalgenes and a few new Siggs

We finally found some Sigg bottles in Maine, so we each got one (look at that cute pink and gold one!) and a small one for Charlie's bike.

With the news of PBAs in plastics lots of people are ditching the Nalgenes. We aren't necessarily going to do that (but wouldn't it be great if Nalgene did a trade in program so you can at least get a new PBA free Nalgene at a discount when you turn in/recycle your old bottle), but won't buy any new ones. The same is true for other plastic products around the kitchen and house.

This is also cause for Charlie to investigate and purchase more gear. He's already commented that the Sigg isn't going to work with our water purifying system (Steripen) when camping. I'm waiting to see what he comes up with.