My Brain is Taking a Break

I know I am not the best writer, although in my made-up little world in my head I am. That being said, I try to make my posts somewhat creative and thought out. I mean, c'mon, no matter how many adorable things Lily does, it gets boring reading them listed out like a grocery list: car seat forward facing, got water table, got Elmo chair, still cute as can be. See what I mean - not very exciting. In a nut shell, that has been the excitement of the past week. It has been a good week, but my brain is not yielding much creativity in expressing that to all the millions that sit on the edge of their seats waiting for a new post from me. Or maybe it is more like the few people that read this blog (see, more proof of my made up world!)

So here it is, a recap of the past week or so, as exciting as I can make it.

On Saturday we turned Lily's car seat to forward facing. She is 14 months old and over 20 pounds, so it is safe to do so. But honestly, if it were winter, or at least not as warm, I would have left her rear facing. It is much easier to get her in and out of her seat when she is rear facing, not to mention safer for her. However, since her car seat is in the middle of the back seat and there are no vents in the back of our car, any air flow hits the back of her car seat and it can get rather steamy back there. I do open the windows in the back, but I can only open them so much or she gets totally windblown. She seems to like looking around and out the windows. It is just another milestone - another sad reminder that my baby is growing up.

Sunday we had my parents and sisters over for a BBQ. The weather was gorgeous and we had a blast. I bought Lily a water table to play with outside and she loves it. She probably would play in it 24/7 if I let her. Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been cooperating since that first lovely day, so hasn't been able to play in it since then. She just carries her little bucket with all her water guys around, happily chewing on her favorite one, the penguin.


And since I seem to be big on spoiling my child, I also bought her a little Elmo chair. It is just her size and she totally digs it.



As you can see, she already enjoys sitting in it, watching TV. Surely she is watching something educational and age appropriate and not the episode of Bones mommy was watching.

We have also pretty much full time given Lily the run of the house, or at least part of it. We have the kitchen and family room blocked off, and we close the bathroom door, but she is free to explore her room, our room, the play room and the front room/den/former living room. The dogs are pretty much shut in the other half of the house, where their water is. They act all oppressed, but give me a break. They spend the day laying on the couches as opposed to laying on our bed. Ironically, Lily's favorite place to play is right by the front door. Weird child.

She will also walk up to the door and stretch to try to reach the door nob, saying "bye bye". We think that she thinks "bye bye" means outside in general and that she wants to go outside.

Well, there you have it. A very unexciting post about what we have been doing lately. I should also mention that we spent the entire day Tuesday in our pajamas. Just because.

I Miss...

I miss so many things now that Lily is growing up and a full fledged independent toddler. For example, easy diaper changes. Not ten minutes ago I had the battle of a life time trying to change a squirmy, squiggly, angry, not-in-the-mood-for-a-diaper-change little girl into a clean diaper. We're talking screaming, crying, squirming, kicking - and that was just me! Just kidding, that was her - I was only crying (not really, but close). How is a 23 pound kid so dang strong? And to top it off, it was a nice poopy diaper (the kid loves blueberries, the next day, me not so much), so in addition to trying to secure a new diaper on her, I had to try to keep poop off of everything. I miss the days when she just lay there babbling as I changed her, wiped her, adored all the sweet little baby rolls on her thighs.

I also miss co-sleeping. I don't miss the back ache and hip aches and general discomfort of sleeping in one position all night. I am sure Matt doesn't miss sleeping on the couch, as he often did, even though he was welcome to snuggle with us. But I miss having my darling little baby snuggled up next to me where I knew she was safe and secure. And those little baby sighs all night. I was never going to be a co-sleeper. At least not a bed sharing co-sleeper. I had a pretty good idea of what I was and wasn't going to do as a parent before I had Lily. I have pretty much recanted on everything. Lily started off in our room in the pack and play, right next to the bed. Although in all truthfulness, she did spend the first night home from the hospital in our bed, with both of us afraid to sleep, just watching her. Once she was too heavy for the bassinet portion of the pack and play, she moved to her crib, at about 4 months. But she would inevitably end up in our bed for some portion of the night. Then we went through a period when she pretty much slept with us from when we went to bed, which usually coincided with a feeding (cuz my kiddo ate at least once, if not twice during the night for a loooong time). Then she transitioned back to her crib, only coming into bed around 5 in the morning. Then it turned into 6 or 6:30, when Matt would get up. Lily would be awake and he would bring her into me and I would nurse her and we would snuggle until she fell back asleep and we would blissfully snooze until she woke up for the day, sometimes as late as nine. And then...well then that all stopped. I think maybe about 2 months ago, but I can't really remember. I stopped nursing and she started becoming much more mobile. And while I don't generally miss the nursing, although I do have my moments, I do miss the snuggle time. And I miss the sitting still.

I love every new stage in Lily's life as much as the previous one, but I also desperately miss the stages we have passed. I miss my little baby, but I love my spunky little toddler. I imagine this will be the dilemma for the rest of my life.

The Past Couple Days...

...have been pretty darn good! On Saturday Matt and I had a date day. We dropped the kiddo off at my in-laws and headed out to lunch. We then walked around downtown N-ville and ran a couple less exciting errands, but ones that took substantially less time not having to strap and unstrap a squirmy toddler in and out of a car seat. We picked up Lily and headed out to dinner with Matt's parents to an awesome German restraunt that we love.

Sunday we went for a bike ride. A very long bike ride. Okay, the ride isn't really any longer than our usual route, but towing a bike trailer and toddler behind sure makes it feel longer. I somehow managed to convince Matt that the chivalrous thing to do is let me tow first and him tow on the way back. Honestly, the chivalrous thing would be for him to tow the whole way, but I am all for women's lib, so I guess I have to pull my weight (or, more accurately, Lily's weight) when it comes to family bike rides. We grilled some yummy shrimp for dinner and Matt made some awesome quinoa as a side. We have never made it before, and I think it is going to start showing up in our kitchen a lot more(the quinoa, that is - although I wouldn't mind more shrimp either). We had a couple glasses of wine and just hung out after we put Lily to bed.

Monday we went to the zoo. Matt got a little bit of a late start on Monday morning (I'm not saying it was the wine, but who knows). When he got home from the gym and was jumping in the shower, I mentioned maybe he should just take the day off since it was already shaping up to be a beautiful day. He didn't need much convincing, so he made a couple phone calls and we were off to the zoo. We only spent a couple hours at the zoo, and then did what I like to believe all parents are apt to do from time to time. We tested out just how far we could stretch Lily's good behavior. We ran a couple more errands and stopped at the mall to pick up my engagement ring/wedding band which was being re-coated. Once we realized we were on the verge of a total meltdown, we headed home and fed Lily and let her run around the house like a crazy person. Talk about a lot of energy from sitting in a stroller all day! She was a mad woman, I tell ya! We put her to bed and then continued our shrimp kick with some awesome grilled shrimp tacos.

Whilst checking my email Monday evening, I discovered an email from a friend inviting me to the zoo with them on Tuesday. The zoo, two days in a row? I am always looking for an excuse to go to the zoo, so today Lily and I went to the zoo, again! The weather was gorgeous and Lily had a great time looking at the animals and running around screaming (happily) in the underwater viewing area for the dolphins. Now, however, I have a weekends worth of chores to catch up on, so off I will go. It really was nice having a sort of four day weekend. Then again, I often forget what day of the week it is...

So Sad...

I am so sad that one of my favorite blogs, Green and Crunchy, has gone private. So Sheri, if you ever stop by, can I get an invite? I promise I am not one of the meanies!

Homeschooling?

Even though Lily is just barely a year old, I have been thinking about homeschooling lately. Now, I have several friends, family members and acquaintances that are both public and private school teachers. It is a very real possibility that I could be flogged by any one (or more!) of these dedicated professionals. My reasons for considering homeschooling have nothing to do with my perceived caliber of educators out there. I am sure there are some crappy ones, but I am willing to bet the house that a vast majority are dedicated teachers that do so not for the glory and riches of it, rather the true desire to shape future generations. See, so you can't all be totally pissed at me! It just seems that everywhere I turn, there is bleak and chilling news about the state of education (mostly public, though private doesn't seem to be immune)in this country. Layoffs, school closings, shortening the school week, increasing the class size, cutting resources and programs and on and on and on. Doesn't really make me want to sign my child (and hopefully future children) up.

And as far as what is taught in public schools, well, I don't know. I want my kids to be critical thinkers above all else. I want them to be able to decide for themselves what they think is true. I am all for learning evolution and creationism and intelligent design and that the world came to be because little green men thought earth looked like a nice place to take up residence. I think sex ed is important, but I am not sure to what degree. And I totally reserve the right to change my mind when Lily is approaching the age of The Talk. I'm not sure that any of the theories out there are wrong, or right. What I believe is what I believe. My kids don't have to agree, as long as they have sound reasoning. I don't want my kids homeschooled because I don't agree with what is taught in public school.

Of course, I am grossly under-qualified to be a teacher. I don't really know anything about teaching. Sure, I know I am teaching Lily things every day, but really, she is just one smart cookie. Give me a child of average intelligence and forget it...they wouldn't learn a thing. Just kidding...I know all parents think their children are brilliant...but mine really is...So why I am even thinking this is an option? I mean, realistically, a crappy public education, which isn't even necessarily what would be received, is bound to be better than what I can provide. Right? So why oh why has this been on my mind lately? No, really, seriously, I am asking.

I guess it may have to do with my little baby becoming her own person now. I can't imagine the day I will have to drop her off at school. Big, scary school. Which quite possibly will not be how my outgoing, friendly and independent child will view it. Heck, she will probably be happy to get away from me, if only for a few hours a day! I don't want to shelter her. Really, I don't. But scary things happen at schools across the country every day. That threat, along with the ever worsening conditions of schools lately make homeschooling look like a good option.

Oh what to do? What to do? Thank goodness I have a couple years...

The Garden is Planted!!!

A six am wake up call, while particularly loathsome, does have certain attributes. Namely, the 2 hour morning nap. Every morning I when I drag my supple behind out of bed, I vow that nap time for baby will be nap time for mommy. As I have learned, however, nap time for baby is a gloriously productive time for mommy. The fact that I have things to do, along with the two or more cups of coffee I have consumed mean I rarely take a nap. However, I do get things done...when I am not stuck in front of the idiot box. No, not the TV - the computer and the numerous blogs I follow. But I digress...
This morning was no exception. After tucking Lily in for a nap, out into the sunshine I headed. There was much to do...flowers to be planted, containers to be planted, beds to be planted. And though I am now covered from head to toe in dirt and other less appetizing "stuff" (think compost manure), my garden is planted and I am anxiously waiting to reap the rewards. Grow plants grow!
For your viewing pleasure:

The container portion of my garden. We have Roma tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, hot banana peppers and sweet banana peppers. In the herb planter, I have sweet basil, Greek oregano, cilantro and Italian (flat leaf) parsley.

In the main bed, from left to right: cucumbers, beefsteak tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, butternut squash. At the far right, the green you see is some garlic that came back from last year. I am not sure what it will do, but I am going to give it a chance.

In this side garden, from left to right, I have romaine lettuce, spinach, and red sail lettuce. There is also a tomato plant. This garden was there when we moved in. It doesn't get a ton of sun, which is why I put the leafies there. I fried my spinach plant last year in the main garden because it gets a ton of sun. This garden is also a total pain because the icky silver maple in the front yard drops it's helicopters, which take up residence in this bed. I spend most of my spring and early summer evicting baby maple trees.

These are the geraniums from the whiskey barrel in our front yard. I always have such a hard time deciding what flowers to put in it. The tree shades most of the front of the house for most of the day, so I need something that does well in the shade. I have tried petunias, impatiens, and a couple other flowers with varying degrees of success. Here's to hoping these do well!

And then there are my hostas, which I love because they require exactly zero effort on my part.

There are still a couple finishing touches I need to put on the garden. I might plant some carrots along the front of the main garden. I have some seeds left over from a couple years ago. I don't have high hopes for them, but I might just plant them and see what happens. I also am deciding whether or not to mulch the garden. I hate HATE hate weeding and tend to get lazy about my garden as the summer progresses. Mulch may help. I have read about putting down shredded newspaper and covering it with mulch. Apparently weeds can't get through the newspaper. If anyone has had any success with this method, I would love to hear about it. My containers also need a new home. This summer my dogs will not enjoy the benefit of a fenced in yard because they regard the garden as a buffet. Therefore, they will be chained up when outside. The chain, which has been purchased but not yet installed, will reach the back of the deck. I am thinking I might just move the containers next to the garden, with the exception of the herbs. Those will probably reside on top of the hot tub. Although the dogs would probably leave those alone anyway.
So there you have it...two hours worth of effort and hopefully fresh produce all summer long.

Mother's Day Weekend

I had a lovely Mother's Day weekend. It started Friday. I went to visit a friend and her adorable kids. We sat outside and talked and watched her kids run around and Lily walk up and down her driveway. Then we ordered pizza and talked some more. I just love sitting and talking with my really good friends...you know, the ones you have been friends with forever. The ones where you can tell a story and not need to give any back story, because they already know. We probably could have talked all night, but while we were on the couch talking (and watching the kids) Lily took a header into her coffee table. The thump her head made when it hit the table was enough to scare the spit out of me. Thankfully, when all was said and done, the fall seemed to upset me more than Lily. She does have a little cut on the outside corner of her eye and her eyelid looks like she put on some bad 80s eye shadow, but only when her eye is closed. It never ceases to amaze me how resilient she is and how quickly she heals!
On Saturday we went out to dinner with my in-laws. We went out for sushi, but I wasn't really feeling like sushi, so I ordered an actual meal off the menu. Apparently they forgot my meal, but I did get a free fancy roll out of it. It was pretty good, but by the time my food got there everyone else was pretty much done eating. However, maybe it was a good thing because I was trying to get an uncooperative toddler to eat while everyone else was eating. This way my food didn't get cold.
Sunday I slept in, got up to a pancake breakfast, and then we all went back to bed. It was awesome! Then we headed over to my parents house. My mom and I went to the nursery to get our veggies. This is our Mother's Day tradition. I have all my little plants sitting, just waiting to go into the ground. I have banana peppers, both hot and sweet, jalapenos, three kinds of tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, crook neck squash, butternut squash, spinach, and two kinds of lettuce. My garden isn't really big enough for all this, so I need to decide what I am going to put in containers. Oh yeah, I also have cilantro (corriander), basil, oregano, and parsley. I am thinking the peppers will go in containers, as well as maybe one of the tomato plants. I have a cute little herb pot that I got on clearance at the beginning of last summer that I will put the herbs in. The lettuces and spinach will go in my side garden which is rather shady, but lettuces don't need full sun. The rest I will squeeze into the regular garden. I need to get working on this, but I also need to come up with a plan to keep the dogs out of the garden. I think we are going to actually get ties and tie up the dogs when we let them out. I feel bad doing this to Lucy, since it is mostly Eli that uses the garden as a buffet, but I can't be sure. The dog(s) jump the chicken wire fence to get into the garden, so just fencing it off isn't really an option. I could use a higher, more sturdy fence, but I need to be able to get into it. Tying up the dogs also will give me the benefit of having some area of the yard that isn't a big doggie bathroom where I can let Lily run around. I see a trip to Home Depot in my future...
Anyway, we had a yummy dinner of ribs and mozzarella and tomato salad and rice and my parents. My mom is seriously the best cook ever! She makes the best ribs! It was a great Mother's Day weekend. Oh yeah, and for gifts I got some money, which is going towards my much needed pedicure!, slippers, earrings, and a pair of Crocs sandals. But the best gifts are the fact that I am a mommy. Lily is the best gift ever! A close second was spending the weekend with friends and family I love. Really, it is the simple things. I love spending time with my family! I hope all my mommy friends had great weekends as well!