Quick Takes: II

Oh Friday Again.

1. I am tired. We stayed up WAY too late.

2. This has been a crazy week. Monday my brother was here, Tuesday was Husband's birthday, Wednesday was ear infection day, Yesterday we stayed up too late and cleaned, today C and I have a lunch date, Tomorrow we are going to an ashes scattering. My little homebody self is cringing and just wants a normal day!

3. Today C is 11 months old. I can't even stand it. The countdown is on.

4. I wish I had something witty or interesting to say. But I don't. I don't think.

5. I have made a new life goal of going to all the Presidential Library Museums. I went to one last year and besides the fact that there were no books at this supposed Library it was really interesting. (My little naive self was expecting... a library.) The one I really want to go to is Reagan's. But I can tell you right now I will not be going to California anytime soon.

6. I am on a quest to make diabetic or low sugar banana bread. I think C would like it, but I don't want him to have as much sugar as in my favorite recipe.

7. It's going to be beautiful this next week. I can't wait.

Have a good weekend!

11 Months Old!

AH! He's 11 months old. How can this be?!

Not new this month but never really recorded:

• If you load a spoon up he will put it in his mouth then drop it on the tray for you to load up again.
• Climbing stairs like crazy if you let him or he makes a break for it. 

New this month: 

• First ear infection
• Can identify Pig and Cow from his Little People Farm and Noah's Ark animals with surprising accuracy. Elephant and Sheep with slightly less accuracy. And those poor other animals on the farm and ark (Zebras, giraffes, lions, horse, goat, chicken, farmer and Noah) they are just for chewing. 
• Had a growth spurt and is 29 inches! (I think but there was definitely a growth spurt as overnight his jeans didn't work anymore.)
• Weighs 21 pounds. 
• Ranges from 6-12 to 12-18 item clothes depending on what it is and what brand. 
• 9 month or 12 month pajamas. The one pair of 6 month pajamas that was hanging in there got kicked out with the growth spurt. Children's Place 12 month pajamas are still too big. 
• Babbling and responding
• Pointing and reaching at things he wants
• Occasionally signs "more." We are not really baby sign people but have sort of taught "more." 

Theme Thursday: Sky and Other Things That Are Going On

My house is a MESS. I need to clean it this morning. But it's so beautiful out that I am having a hard time convincing myself of the fact. I mean, how can I possibly be expected to handle high school cleaning on a day like this:

I stuck my phone out the door of my screen porch.

Alas, it is overdue. I try to clean a little every day so it never gets out of hand. But I didn't get to yesterday. So now it's out of hand. Yesterday C was not himself. Cranky before his nap. That happens though. Then he proceeded to scream on and off the rest of the afternoon. This has never happened. The only thing making him even remotely happy was being snuggled. So while I was perfectly contented to let the house go ala this:

I was still worried. At 4:10 I called Husband home. Not too early but I needed him to see for himself that this was not normal. At 4:15 I called the doctor. Then we took him to convenient care. Poor baby has an ear infection. One ear full blown, one ear almost there. I suppose I should be thankful that it took him until the last 2 days of 10 months before he got go-to-the-doctor's sick but it still broke my heart. 

So I need to get cleaning while he's cheerful. We also discovered he has a love for country music. I have all of 11 songs on my iPod--not really our genre of choice but something about the beat and the twang makes him bop to the beat with a big smile. So it's cleaning to country music morning over here. After this discovery was made I downloaded a few more songs. Now I am in 1992 and rockin' to Achy Breaky Heart. Oh yes I am. 

Link up your sky to Clan Donaldson and thanks Cari for hosting! I bet you have sky to take a picture of! Also a pretty awesome excuse to put Channing Tatum's picture on your blog since he is in talks with Fox to be in a Guys and Dolls movie opposite Joesph Gordon Levitt. And let's be honest, he'll probably be Sky Masterson. ;)

Those People

We have these friends. You know the type. They're married, and have been for 3 years. No kids yet, but they have a cat they got together. They bought a house. Now it should be noted that they even work together. (Her second job is being his employee.) And they post on Facebook. A lot. To each other.

But every time she posts a picture he says "You are so talented babe." And she'll respond. And they like Every. Single. Thing. the other one says or posts. Not to mention the glorious updates on their relationship and little moments via stati. "Coffee with my love!" "Wine, lentils and asparagus with the deepest blue eyes."

But Madeline, why don't you just block them from your news feed? Done. But they serve a purpose to this story. Husband and I often refer to them and their ridiculous Facebook trends. The common reference statement is "I want to stroke your feet. I want to caress your hair. Let's go to dinner soon." Because you guys, that's what it seems like. Example: "Hey? Wanna buy a house today? Meet me at noon."

And we don't get it. They presumably see each other on a daily basis at home. They also work together. They should be able to say all the things they need to say that's gushy and ridiculous about dinner plans via text or in person. Or gosh, even a Facebook message.

We often comment how it seems they are working HARD (Too hard maybe?) to make sure their marriage looks strong in public. And I was thinking about how maybe it's because in private it's not going so well and this is their attempt to do better. Or to fool us into thinking that they're doing great. Or maybe they are just annoying and know no other way. The point here, is that marriage is hard. While Husband and I take the duck philosophy--you know the strong and steady above water and paddling underneath the water, perhaps these two subscribe to the everything out in the open philosophy. And you know what? Either is better than not trying at all.

But all that being said. Today is Husband's birthday. And on this birthday I would like to tell him in a public setting how much I love him and I am so lucky. He goes to work each day and comes home happy to see us. He does dishes. (I hate doing dishes.) He lets me sleep in on the weekends, but that means he rarely, if ever gets to sleep in.

So Husband, I love you. Happy birthday.

I am going to bake a cake and get ready to go visit Husband at work for lunch!

Things to do, what's new and who knew?

It's Monday. Monday. Sheesh where did the weekend go?

I've got things to do today. Finish the front closet clean out that I started yesterday okay, Friday. I started Friday. I've got laundry to do. Run the dishwasher. I've got a guy coming about the basement situation for an estimate I'm guessing will be in $6000 range. (Hear the laughing from wherever you are?)

So what's new? Husband's birthday is tomorrow and the poor man never had a fun birthday celebration in his life 'til I came around. It's sad. And he has no idea what he wants to do for his birthday. Like even just what do you want for dinner? Or do you want a cake? Questions with no answers. At least we got the present situation all figured out and taken care off. Thank goodness--he is always a struggle for me.

Who knew that boys are practically born with the ability to make car noises. C pushes his cars and trucks (He only has 5 and got 3 for Easter from my parents.) around and makes raspberry car noises. Or when he's in his Cozy Coupe--same thing. I didn't teach him that. Husband didn't either. Who knew?!

Happy Monday!

7 Quick Takes: I

Quick Takes! Thanks Jen err.. Grace for hosting and YAY Jen, you're all home!

1. I am really looking forward to a nice quiet weekend. Last weekend we hosted all the family here and it was busy. Hopefully we can relax and not do a whole lot--that would be ideal. Except thank you notes. I've got to finish those. 

2. If you missed my last Theme Thursday on the flooded basement... well the rain kept coming. But the basement isn't any worse so that's lucky. Still, if anyone would like to take the rain away feel free. We have it in spades. My old stomping grounds is covered in snow. It's a toss up for me really. I have green grass, and daffodils and a ton of excess water but it's April 19 so snow doesn't really seem fun either.

3. Life is messy. Never is this more clear than feeding my 10 month old yogurt. We are learning about spoons. Right now if you scoop the food on the spoon and hand it to him he will put it in his mouth. It is way messier than if I just fed him but that's how he learns right?! It really is a good metaphor. I just need to remind myself from time to time.

4. My broseph is coming on Monday on his way back to live in the deep south. That's fun. Both the he's going to live in the south so maybe this time I'll go visit and spend time in the south. And you know, the he's coming to my house for a night thing.

5. I have decided to make bread pudding tonight. I've never made bread pudding before. But I like to eat it and it seems remarkably like baked french toast so... I am going to give it a whirl. As long as I buy milk.

6. If you look at food on Pinterest, you have almost certainly seen this pin on cooking steak restaurant style. I tried it a week or so ago only I used the Omaha Sirloin Steaks Husband's grandma sent us for Christmas. Alas, my estimated rough cooking time was off and I wound up with shoe leather. Okay... it was medium so still edible though not nearly as enjoyable as moo or slightly less moo would have been. Either way, I really enjoyed it and it made the house smell SO good with the lemony, garlicy, buttery smell. And since I still have 2 steaks and half the butter I made it may be time for a second go around. You know to go with the bread pudding.

7. Our house has lovely dark blue carpet that I would LOVE to rid myself of but alas is not to be for some time. It actually looks better now that we've painted and it stays vacuumed. Alas I say again because walking on it makes it have specks of stuff, never mind the crumbs from the baby. To aid in the lessening of crumbs I am considering one of those "spill proof" snack cups with the soft plastic the baby reaches through. Anyone have any experience with those working or not?

Have a great weekend!

Theme Thursday: Boys

What a perfect first real post for my new blog home. Who doesn't love a good theme Thursday? I sure as heck do!And luckily she didn't pick girls because I don't have any!

C loves swimming... he is just a huge fan. So while the fam was here last weekend we made use of their pool. Here are my favorite boys having a good time!

So have a great week and be sure to link up your boys to Clan Donaldson and get ready because sky is next week!