I've lost some weight since last April, but I pretty much still carry it around with me everywhere I go.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Time Flies
I've lost some weight since last April, but I pretty much still carry it around with me everywhere I go.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Flying with Mr. Wiggles
Flying with the little guy wasn't as scary as some people make it out to be... he actually did fairly well even though no one around us could possibly have taken a satisfying nap with all the yelling, grunting, and banging. He's not a cuddle baby... in other words, he doesn't like to be held all the time unless you are moving (and unless you are Ama). He's been like this since Day 1; he would never fall asleep in our arms (unless you are Ama) and was much happier lying down with enough space to wiggle and roll. So being constantly held by Mom and Dad in our seats for 3 hours wasn't exactly fun for him. Thankfully both legs of the trip we managed to have an empty seat between us and plastic cups for entertainment.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Mr. Wiggly's Food
It was one of those nights when getting Mr. Wiggly's pj's on --- much less his diaper--- was a mega challenge. The kid knows how to moooove.
We recently returned from a vacation to Mexico to celebrate my dad's 75th birthday. It was, um, awesome. So awesome that I ruined my camera when the Mexican dude who acted like he couldn't speak English made me speak to him in Spanish and then later told me to jump out of his boat. I did. And then I went under, camera and all.
Thankfully, my mom sent me home with her camera until my new one arrives. Thanks to Amazon Mom and Amazon Prime, it will be here tomorrow. In the meantime, here is a photo of some of Mr. Wiggly's food, fresh out of the freezer tray and ready to go back in their labeled ziplocks.
And here is a prettier photo of what the rest of Mr. Wiggly's food looks like but that I'm copying a picture from the internet of because I have no desire to make his food "look pretty for a photo" photo.
Over the past few weeks I have been having so much fun making Clyde's food and introducing him to new tastes. He loves to eat and it has been no problem getting him to accept solids. Of all the things I've given him, the only thing he's rejected (read: vomited up every single bite) is avocado. We'll try it again later. So far in addition to rice and oat cereal he's had carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, bananas, apples, pears, papaya (in Mexico), peas (just today!), and of course the avocado.
Next up maybe some squash or broccoli. I think I'll start him in January on some yogurt and chicken.
We recently returned from a vacation to Mexico to celebrate my dad's 75th birthday. It was, um, awesome. So awesome that I ruined my camera when the Mexican dude who acted like he couldn't speak English made me speak to him in Spanish and then later told me to jump out of his boat. I did. And then I went under, camera and all.
Thankfully, my mom sent me home with her camera until my new one arrives. Thanks to Amazon Mom and Amazon Prime, it will be here tomorrow. In the meantime, here is a photo of some of Mr. Wiggly's food, fresh out of the freezer tray and ready to go back in their labeled ziplocks.
And here is a prettier photo of what the rest of Mr. Wiggly's food looks like but that I'm copying a picture from the internet of because I have no desire to make his food "look pretty for a photo" photo.
Over the past few weeks I have been having so much fun making Clyde's food and introducing him to new tastes. He loves to eat and it has been no problem getting him to accept solids. Of all the things I've given him, the only thing he's rejected (read: vomited up every single bite) is avocado. We'll try it again later. So far in addition to rice and oat cereal he's had carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, bananas, apples, pears, papaya (in Mexico), peas (just today!), and of course the avocado.
Next up maybe some squash or broccoli. I think I'll start him in January on some yogurt and chicken.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thankful for the flu shot?
I went and got my flu shot today. This used to scream "I'm pregnant" because I stubbornly never wanted to get the shot, and never seemed to need it, as I can't recall ever having the flu (knock on wood). Last year, I called my best friend and told her I got the flu shot, and she knew immediately that I had news to share.
But, as many other habits in my life have changed, I hereby now believe in getting the flu shot. With a baby in my house, I want to take every precaution from getting/spreading illness.
It is an amazingly beautiful day here. I wouldn't want Thanksgiving Eve to be any other way. It's bright, sunny, and crisp outside, but not cold enough to need a sweater (upper 60s... perfect!). Christmas decorations are going up all around the medical center.
So, I thought it might be a good day to walk over to the occupational health clinic for my shot. I'd been putting it off long enough.
The walk to and from the clinic reminded me so much of when I was pregnant with Clyde. The first part of the walk was the same path I took to see the Midwives, every month, then every two weeks, then every week. It became part of my routine. It felt strange not to go and see them the week after Clyde was born. Even weeks after he was born, I was wishing I had a reason to go see them. I would never say this about any other doctor I've ever seen. The Midwives are just awesome. That's all there is to it. I felt like they cared about me, not just as a patient, but as a person. I wasn't just another patient chart in their files. They weren't machines, asking questions per protocol. I looked forward to sitting on that exam table, being poked and prodded, talking about "the baby". So, today, I wanted to change my course and just walk right in and see them. But alas, I was going to get my flu shot. And I'm not pregnant. Hm. Maybe I should make an appointment for a pap smear? ;)
Anyway, there was no wait for the shot, and I was outta there in 1.2 seconds. I decided to take the "shortcut" back to my office. Now, if you know how big this medical center is, you have an idea of how easy it might be to get lost. So yeah. That "shortcut" was no short cut. I ended up taking a detour that was much out of my way.
I took the skybridge across Main Street. The last time I was on that skybridge, Nate and I were walking to our car after an appointment with the Midwives, in which we were instructed to go home, have a nice dinner, and pack our bags to check into the hospital the next day. I remember we were feeling a surreal sense of anticipation.
Instead of forking off to the right (towards the Midwives), I forked left, which I thought would take me towards my office. But when I got to the end of the bridge, I realized I was now inside St. Luke's, the hospital where Clyde was born. This was not in the direction I needed to be going. I hate (hate) hospitals, but instead of back-tracking, I decided to keep going, and just take the long way home. I weaved through the hospital corridors to the front lobby.
The last time I walked in to that hospital, I was still pregnant. The last time I walked out (or, I was wheeled out), I was holding a crying baby. I had such a positive experience in that hospital. And I was remembering every detail of checking in to our room, giving birth, recovery, and going home.
It seems impossible that I will ever have such a positive pregnancy and birth experience again. It also seems impossible to love another child as much as I love Clyde.
So, cheers to getting my flu shot, which took my down memory lane, and made me remember how thankful I am for Clyde, for the midwives, and for such a quality hospital system.
Happy Thanksgiving!
But, as many other habits in my life have changed, I hereby now believe in getting the flu shot. With a baby in my house, I want to take every precaution from getting/spreading illness.
It is an amazingly beautiful day here. I wouldn't want Thanksgiving Eve to be any other way. It's bright, sunny, and crisp outside, but not cold enough to need a sweater (upper 60s... perfect!). Christmas decorations are going up all around the medical center.
So, I thought it might be a good day to walk over to the occupational health clinic for my shot. I'd been putting it off long enough.
The walk to and from the clinic reminded me so much of when I was pregnant with Clyde. The first part of the walk was the same path I took to see the Midwives, every month, then every two weeks, then every week. It became part of my routine. It felt strange not to go and see them the week after Clyde was born. Even weeks after he was born, I was wishing I had a reason to go see them. I would never say this about any other doctor I've ever seen. The Midwives are just awesome. That's all there is to it. I felt like they cared about me, not just as a patient, but as a person. I wasn't just another patient chart in their files. They weren't machines, asking questions per protocol. I looked forward to sitting on that exam table, being poked and prodded, talking about "the baby". So, today, I wanted to change my course and just walk right in and see them. But alas, I was going to get my flu shot. And I'm not pregnant. Hm. Maybe I should make an appointment for a pap smear? ;)
Anyway, there was no wait for the shot, and I was outta there in 1.2 seconds. I decided to take the "shortcut" back to my office. Now, if you know how big this medical center is, you have an idea of how easy it might be to get lost. So yeah. That "shortcut" was no short cut. I ended up taking a detour that was much out of my way.
I took the skybridge across Main Street. The last time I was on that skybridge, Nate and I were walking to our car after an appointment with the Midwives, in which we were instructed to go home, have a nice dinner, and pack our bags to check into the hospital the next day. I remember we were feeling a surreal sense of anticipation.
Instead of forking off to the right (towards the Midwives), I forked left, which I thought would take me towards my office. But when I got to the end of the bridge, I realized I was now inside St. Luke's, the hospital where Clyde was born. This was not in the direction I needed to be going. I hate (hate) hospitals, but instead of back-tracking, I decided to keep going, and just take the long way home. I weaved through the hospital corridors to the front lobby.
The last time I walked in to that hospital, I was still pregnant. The last time I walked out (or, I was wheeled out), I was holding a crying baby. I had such a positive experience in that hospital. And I was remembering every detail of checking in to our room, giving birth, recovery, and going home.
It seems impossible that I will ever have such a positive pregnancy and birth experience again. It also seems impossible to love another child as much as I love Clyde.
So, cheers to getting my flu shot, which took my down memory lane, and made me remember how thankful I am for Clyde, for the midwives, and for such a quality hospital system.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
It all started with the donuts
We've been eating alot around here over the past week. And I'm feeling a bit rotund.
Now just to set things straight, while I may be obsessed with exercise and running, I am not one of those weight conscious, calorie counting, buy-everything-nonfat kinds of people. I think it defeats the concept of enjoying food, as I can always tell the difference between regular vs. nonfat and the latter tastes ick. Artificial sweeteners? No thanks. Not only do they taste terrible, they play with my body and give me terrible headaches. But I digress.
This is not a post about fatness or diet plans, but rather a bemused post about how we've stuffed ourselves to the brim this week with sweets even though we are not sweets people.
It all started with the donuts. I was at the grocery store last week and I was probably hungry. Wait. I'm almost always hungry. Anyway, the donuts looked so good. And the bags had big red stickers on them that said "Buy one, get one free". So I bought 2 bags. One bag of powdered donuts, one bag of chocolate covered donuts.
I went home and ate
We ate pie for dinner after they arrived. And it was good. We had it with Blue Bell Spiced Pumpkin Pecan ice cream. And it was good. Later on in the week I had many more servings of the seasonal and limited time Spiced Pumpkin Pecan ice cream, Peppermint Blue Bell ice cream (another seasonal flavor and the very very best!), and Butter Crunch Blue Bell ice cream. Doh. Yes, I confess we have three half gallons of ice cream in our freezer. Something I don't think has happened to me in my almost-31 years of existence. In fact, we usually have ice cream in our freezer that never gets finished and stays there for 6 months or more. I recently (two weeks ago maybe) threw away a half-full half gallon of ice cream that I purchased during my pregnancy when I was having a hankering for chocolate ice cream... you do the math on how old it was. But it wasn't Blue Bell. If it were Blue Bell it would have been eaten. Just like the three half gallons in our freezer. Hm. Check back with us in a few months.
Around mid-week I baked a pumpkin cake for Nate's birthday, probably while I finished off the donuts. Recipe below. So easy and so good. I ate most of it. And sent the rest off to work with Nate -- except for half the pan--- so I wouldn't devour it all.
The simple fact that my parents were here is enough information to know that we had lots of food in the house. They come and they generously stuff our fridge and pantry full every time. And instead of the cookies that my mom promised to bake and bring, we were gifted with 4 McDonald's pumpkin pies. Nate ate all of those. I hear they were good.
Oh, and the candy. There has been lots of candy around here recently. What with Halloween and all the jumbo bags of candy on sale, it's sort of just sitting around the house. And someone has to eat it. Ever had Milky Way Simply Caramel? So good if you are a caramel lover like me.
Well, now that I'm done with my mug of creamer (with decaf coffee) and slice of leftover pumpkin cake smothered with cream cheese icing (mm mm good), I will go and ponder what to buy at the grocery store for this week... and perhaps schedule in a few extra runs to fight off the rotundity. That is, after I have a bowl of Peppermint ice cream.
---------------------------------
Pumpkin Cake
2c. Sugar
1.5c. Wesson Oil
4 eggs
2c. Flour
1.5c. canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking soda
1. Mix all ingredients together and into a smooth mixture.
2. Cook at 350 for 45min.
Cream Cheese Frosting
8oz. cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 lb. powder sugar
1 tablespoon Vanilla
1. Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth
2. Spread on cooled cake.
Monday, October 31, 2011
A few things I've learned
A few things I've learned since becoming a mom:
- Many tasks which I previously thought required two hands can be accomplished with one (or even with one foot.... never underestimate the utility of your toes)
- If you stay at a hotel with a baby, they will book you a room at the end of the hall without your even asking (sigh of relief)
- More people are interested in talking to "you"... ie talking to the baby. I was at the grocery store last week with Clyde and the sacker kept talking to Clyde and then asked if we needed help out. I answered him and he said "No no, I was talking to HIM". And as I walked away I didn't get a Goodbye or Thank you, rather Clyde got a "Now don't give your mama any trouble today!" I shoulda sent Clyde to the store for me.
- Everything, and I mean everything, is more exciting with a kid around.
- Time goes by way too fast.
- Sleep is overrated.
- Diapers are expensive.
- .... there are more, but baby calls.
- Many tasks which I previously thought required two hands can be accomplished with one (or even with one foot.... never underestimate the utility of your toes)
- If you stay at a hotel with a baby, they will book you a room at the end of the hall without your even asking (sigh of relief)
- More people are interested in talking to "you"... ie talking to the baby. I was at the grocery store last week with Clyde and the sacker kept talking to Clyde and then asked if we needed help out. I answered him and he said "No no, I was talking to HIM". And as I walked away I didn't get a Goodbye or Thank you, rather Clyde got a "Now don't give your mama any trouble today!" I shoulda sent Clyde to the store for me.
- Everything, and I mean everything, is more exciting with a kid around.
- Time goes by way too fast.
- Sleep is overrated.
- Diapers are expensive.
- .... there are more, but baby calls.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
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