tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27049078076394613822024-03-13T14:23:04.985-04:00Adventures in Motherhoodslaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-22949796478203595532014-11-05T19:08:00.001-05:002014-11-05T19:08:50.401-05:00Test postTest post<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BdRUsQI9BAc/VFq8CT756pI/AAAAAAAAE9M/HELPG1Ebdjg/s640/blogger-image-45050073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BdRUsQI9BAc/VFq8CT756pI/AAAAAAAAE9M/HELPG1Ebdjg/s640/blogger-image-45050073.jpg"></a></div>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-65067634619412589662013-02-05T09:26:00.000-05:002013-02-05T09:26:00.118-05:00Traditions for the Non-Traditional<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Just catching up on and blogging pics from the past few months.... enjoy a look back!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Celebrating "the season" is kinda' different in our house.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df11b3127ccef2693d03903f00000030O32AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=3/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df11b3127ccef2693d03903f00000030O32AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=3/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We love Christmas. LOVE it. But not in the traditional sense.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We love family. And kindness. And frivolity. And gift-giving. And taking time to be grateful and to count our blessings.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But we aren't the really the midnight mass crowd.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So, instead, we ventured to Columbus Commons this year on Christmas Eve to see the lights.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And play.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df11b3127ccef269129d511e00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df11b3127ccef269129d511e00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And take some pictures.</span><br />
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df11b3127ccef26844b9f06d00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df11b3127ccef26844b9f06d00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And just be with each other, without a schedule or mom telling everyone to "be quiet" or "calm down" or "go to bed."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And you know what? It was great.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df11b3127ccef2680254f0a300000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df11b3127ccef2680254f0a300000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-27173757766731139502013-02-03T08:53:00.001-05:002013-02-03T08:53:09.098-05:00Amazing things have been happening...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Amazing things have happened this weekend. The little things that make me feel like I'm actually a grown up and actually doing and OK job at this mom and wife thing. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Exhibit A: the house isn't a complete disaster. </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't call it "clean" but it's bordering on tidy. You could stop by right now and I wouldn't be totally embarrassed. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Exhibit B: Ben and Viv are playing together</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Like, just happily running around and playing. No fighting or crying... yet. They even went to the basement playroom for about 10 mins while I drank a tiny bit of coffee alone. This is big, people.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Exhibit C: Doc McDancin'</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Needs no explanation. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/85vFkhRgzOE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">(P.S. Can I give Disney props for Doc McStuffins? Boys and girls love it, there's always a lesson, the MOM is a doctor, the parents are married and actually AROUND, the house they live in isn't spotlessly clean. I just really, really love this show.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-15716198351568916972013-01-30T16:02:00.002-05:002013-01-30T16:02:37.731-05:00The iPad is the demise of my blog<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I just can’t type on touch screens. So I’m trying to dust of
my trusty laptop to boost my blogging levels…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But it’s not just the iPad, it’s <a href="http://pinterest.com/sayonadat/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/sayonada/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>
and, oh, a toddler. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df08b3127ccef26eaa58656400000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=720/ry=480/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df08b3127ccef26eaa58656400000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=720/ry=480/" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And her brother.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df08b3127ccef26e299d257800000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=720/ry=480/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3df08b3127ccef26e299d257800000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=720/ry=480/" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So I’m really really really trying to refocus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have a million half-written blog posts in my brain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So here come the brain dumps/past un-blogged projects/journey
into the world of having a serger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Serger-ing and blogging and 2013, here I come!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-59904189977715135642012-11-21T10:55:00.001-05:002012-11-21T10:58:28.403-05:00Displaying Ben's Art<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">AKA reclaiming my fridge. </span><br />
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pmpv4fw1rsg/UKz5DITgnTI/AAAAAAAAEvU/Uvbd48etOiQ/s640/blogger-image--710284083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pmpv4fw1rsg/UKz5DITgnTI/AAAAAAAAEvU/Uvbd48etOiQ/s640/blogger-image--710284083.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Simple projects are so satisfying. Two pushpins, some string and clothespins. I had everything on hand. Can't figure out why it took so long for me to just do it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EHouoOoT6Uw/UKz5C0qR14I/AAAAAAAAEvM/mYvcr3yYtzc/s640/blogger-image--2044943537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EHouoOoT6Uw/UKz5C0qR14I/AAAAAAAAEvM/mYvcr3yYtzc/s640/blogger-image--2044943537.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And I'm happy to report this little system is working. Now Ben has to rotate his art. If we wants to put a new piece up, one has to come down. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Though I think most of these little turkeys and will make their way into a decoration box for years to come. </span></div>
slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-43803038124277430602012-11-08T16:55:00.002-05:002012-11-08T16:55:46.472-05:00Drunken Pumpkin 2012<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Another fall tradition is a pumpkin feast. With pumpkin food (Trader Joe's Pumpkin ravioli... yum!) and pumpkin beer (hence the name.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So lucky to have celebrated with a blazing fire. </span><br />
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf29b3127ccef1c4b47ade8f00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=720/ry=480/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf29b3127ccef1c4b47ade8f00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=720/ry=480/" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And three lovely ladies. </span><br />
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf29b3127ccef1c5fe7e7fd200000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf29b3127ccef1c5fe7e7fd200000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-34881290090767758972012-11-06T22:37:00.001-05:002012-11-06T22:38:44.356-05:00Grateful NovemberJoin me on Instagram. Share the things for which you are grateful. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D8zcUR5Zlpo/UJnXdN9tjSI/AAAAAAAAEuw/63Lsro86OMM/s640/blogger-image-1222962112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D8zcUR5Zlpo/UJnXdN9tjSI/AAAAAAAAEuw/63Lsro86OMM/s640/blogger-image-1222962112.jpg" /></a></div>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-1267344499356497352012-11-01T13:45:00.003-04:002012-11-01T13:45:38.400-04:00Another year at Lynd's Fruit farm<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A new year, a new baby and a glorious fall afternoon at Lynd's. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef17404fa663000000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef17404fa663000000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef174d513a71900000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef174d513a71900000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This year also doubled as Vivi's one-year old photo shoot. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef175f01846e400000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef175f01846e400000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef17495b226a800000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef17495b226a800000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef17505c006de00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef17505c006de00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Precious. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">See last year <a href="http://sysadventuresinmotherhood.blogspot.com/2011/09/apple-picking-and-waiting-for-baby.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And all previous years <a href="http://sysadventuresinmotherhood.blogspot.com/2010/09/fall-traditions.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-70833271730047595312012-10-25T15:13:00.000-04:002012-10-25T15:13:00.686-04:00Christmas 2012<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><i>[A POST THAT NEVER POSTED... NEARLY A YEAR LATE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY: BETTER LATE THAN...]</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Because I don't want to forget the magic that was Christmas this year....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Four of us on Christmas morning....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Up at 4:30 a.m. (!) and opening presents from Santa. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d835b3127ccef009e8f7200000000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d835b3127ccef009e8f7200000000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">But the present from Daddy was the best...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d835b3127ccef0092e3ba19f00000030O32AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=3/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d835b3127ccef0092e3ba19f00000030O32AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=3/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I swore before I had Ben there'd be no guns in the house. None. But it's like this child was hard-wired. I couldn't help it. Everything has already been turned into a gun (fingers, straws, socks, shampoo bottles) and these "blaster guns" are hands down his favorite gift. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Though, he loves his "guys" a lot as well. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Of course there's more. There was the early Christmas with the Laengs. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And Christmas with the Thomases later on Christmas day... </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Of course, every Christmas is special. But this momma must be getting more sentimental because this one just seemed to have a little more magic. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-69848602619639400962012-10-24T15:06:00.000-04:002012-10-24T15:07:14.015-04:00Finding balance<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Balance is illusive. I’m always looking for it. I want to
find it. And keep it. And declare it discovered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef174e102262200000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="465" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef174e102262200000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">But now I’m realizing – 4+ years into this motherhood thing –
that it’s a daily search.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So, now I’m trying to find balance daily. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Or maybe I should just strive for hourly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Wherever it is. I’ll keep looking. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef175331b061e00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2d737b3127ccef175331b061e00000030O02AaNmTJi3aNAe3nwY/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-13078585983470245102012-08-31T14:07:00.001-04:002012-08-31T14:07:41.146-04:00Photo Book<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=2AaNmTJi3aNLcW&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=2AaNmTJi3aNLcW&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AaNmTJi3aNHWQ&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><div style="margin-top: 10px; width: 425px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books" style="color: #6666cc;">Shutterfly photo books</a> offer a wide range of artful designs and embellishments to choose from.</div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=photobook&c2=blogger" /></p>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-46926818520784689562012-04-11T08:00:00.001-04:002012-10-24T15:08:58.666-04:00How to get an almost-4-year-old to stay still...Dress him as batman. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/7063366837/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5239/7063366837_82b8896abc_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<br />
Then take it to the next level. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6917287782/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/6917287782_389b545a58_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/7063370817/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/7063370817_fea497a773_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-21834392906124283902012-04-10T20:53:00.000-04:002012-04-10T20:53:00.196-04:00Making the most of itHave I ever mentioned I hate my master bath? I do. But it's the very last thing that will be redone in our house. While I wait to hit the jackpot, I'm making the most of the gigantic, dust collecting corner tub. <br />
<br />
My former boss (who is worthy of an entire post herself!) suggested that Ben would some day love playing in the tub. <br />
<br />
He's still not keen on filling it with water. But we're making the most of it. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6957875975/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6957875975_e8131eff0c_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Untitled"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-1994970518322569912012-03-27T10:26:00.000-04:002012-03-27T10:26:40.718-04:00A Mommy of the Cloth (Part II: washing)Washing cloth diapers is another reason people are hesitant to take the leap. What do you do with all that poop?<br />
<br />
Well. It's actually pretty easy. <br />
<br />
I keep my routine simple. And do a load of cloth diapers every three days. <br />
<ul><li>First, I start with a presoak.</li>
<li>Then, I run a cotton cycle with an extra rinse.</li>
<li>Dry in the dryer or in the sun.</li>
</ul>That is it. I use Charlie's Soap b/c my friend and I split a HUGE order of it that she got off of Amazon. But before that, I was using All Free and Clear. The main thing you want to avoid is of dyes and softeners that actually cause the diaper to be less absorbant (which is, of course, the opposite of what you want a diaper to do.)<br />
<br />
Now that Vivi is eating more solids, I have started using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=diaper+sprayer#/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=diaper+liners&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Adiaper+liners" target="_blank">flushable diaper liners</a>. They come in a roll and you simply place it between the diaper and the baby. Then, when baby poops, you can flush the whole thing. <br />
<br />
Instead of the liners, you can also buy a diaper sprayer like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=diaper+sprayer" target="_blank">this one</a> and attach it to the side of the toilet. You can used that to spray any poop off into the potty before putting it in a diaper bag or bin until wash day. <br />
<br />
Bet that was easier than you thought, right? And, no, there's not poop all over the inside of my washing machine. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" /></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-21055094673021085622012-03-25T09:40:00.001-04:002012-03-25T09:44:17.079-04:00A Mommy of the Cloth (Part I: anatomy)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/7013893109/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/7013893109_bfa62225f0_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt=""></a><br />
<br />
Cloth diapering is definitely a thing right now. And I couldn't be more thrilled about how much it's gaining popularity. But it's also confusing and, at times, intimidating. Lots of bloggers have broken down the ins and outs of cloth diapering ( I read about it <a href="http://styleberryblog.com/an-accidental-passion-cloth-diapering-for-the-modern-mom" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/08/the-much-requested-cloth-diaper-post/">here</a> and <a href="http://http://alphamom.com/parenting/baby/lazy-moms-guide-to-cloth-diapering/">here</a>, and all three were very helpful), but for those of my friends who are considering cloth, I thought I'd share how I do it. <br />
<br />
<strong>First things first.</strong><br />
The first thing to know about cloth diapers is that there are three main "styles."<br />
<br />
There's the traditional cloth diaper called a "prefold" that you put on your baby and then cover it with a waterproof cover. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/7013926579/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7013926579_8475dd8475_z.jpg" width="640" height="481" alt=""></a><br />
<br />
<br />
There's a the pocket diaper, which looks just like a disposable but is stuffable with absorbent liners. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/7013915925/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7013915925_5a2b839fe9_z.jpg" width="640" height="479" alt=""></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/7013920081/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7244/7013920081_8e7716c1b2_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt=""></a><br />
<br />
And there's the "all in one diaper" which is, well, just one piece. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6867796536/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6867796536_d849479b19_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt=""></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/7013911377/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/7013911377_4afe4b2035_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt=""></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I have all three and love them all. <br />
<br />
You can also pick to close the diaper with Velcro (also called aplix) or snaps. Snaps are more durable, but velcro is closer to a disposable, so it's less intimidating for new users. Again, I have both. <br />
<br />
I feel like starting with an all-in-one or a pocket diaper is the least intimidating. They look just like a disposable and you either have to stuff the diaper to make it more absorbent or you don't.<br />
<br />
These are also great for babysitters since they don't really have to do anything differently. If they know how to change a disposable, then they know how to change a cloth diaper. You just don't throw it away. <br />
<br />
Now, I happen to really like using traditional cloth diapers (AKA prefolds) and a cover because you can reuse the cover and just change the cloth diaper provided the cover stays clean. It's also less expensive.<br />
<br />
Now, I totally stressed about buying these diapers and, at first, felt like I had to commit to one brand/style of diaper. Nothing could be further from the truth. Try out different brands. Get a few of each. If you want to do diaper laundry every other day, buy about 12. With 16 or 18, you can do laundry every third day. <br />
<br />
With not that much trial and error, you'll soon have favorites. <br />
<br />
<em>Next post... washing cloth diapers</em>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-52551690753155445222012-03-08T14:01:00.000-05:002012-03-08T14:01:31.505-05:00My little pretzel<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Any time Vivi's feet are uncovered, they go right into her mouth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6957857317/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img alt="" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6957857317_6468e6fa88_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">She spends most of her post-bath time tied up in a little ball of baby. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I think she looks like the cutest pretzel ever. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6811738894/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img alt="" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6811738894_f662924f12_z.jpg" width="427" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-78525716100269603202012-02-29T14:29:00.000-05:002012-02-29T14:29:49.373-05:00Living a cubby<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Most of us live in cubbies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Well, some people call them cubes. I think it's a cubby. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">But I like to pretty it us. Step 1: a Jeni's pint as a pencil cup. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6881903269/" title="New uses by sayonadat, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img alt="New uses" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6881903269_ed6f8de094_z.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It's the little things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-91298560791317989422012-02-21T09:00:00.007-05:002012-02-21T09:00:11.114-05:0022 Weeks<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Everyone says that, when you have children time flies. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6879103819/" title="Kisses by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img alt="Kisses" height="600" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6879103819_4b03b184cc_z.jpg" width="450" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">That's an understatment. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6879139763/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img alt="" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7201/6879139763_ef0d727041_z.jpg" width="414" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Time zooms. It warps. It just disappears. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I don't want to forget. This is what 22 weeks looks like. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6879110267/" title="Vivi by sayonadat, on Flickr"><img alt="Vivi" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6879110267_d5ca33e22f_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The fastest 22 weeks of my life. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-51091253838788795552012-02-20T11:56:00.001-05:002012-02-20T11:56:51.572-05:00Sometimes my big boy<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Wants to play in his baby sister's crib.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6879148789/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img alt="" height="425" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6879148789_d9975d665d_b.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">She's OK with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59898529@N03/6879156459/" title="Untitled by sayonadat, on Flickr"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img alt="" height="426" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7191/6879156459_2d165106a4_b.jpg" width="640" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-53759126318350584072012-01-10T21:45:00.000-05:002012-01-10T21:45:03.159-05:0030 in 30 update<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It's 2012. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So yeah. That's big news. It's also the year I turn 30. Which, for the record, I am totally OK with. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">But I thought I'd give you a little update on <a href="http://sysadventuresinmotherhood.blogspot.com/2011/09/30-things.html" target="_blank">my list</a> -- and to keep myself honest. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Here's a status:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Give birth to <strong>ONE</strong> new baby -- <strong>Check!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Make that baby <strong>TWO</strong> dresses from a pattern</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Try <strong>THREE </strong>new veggies or fruits -- <strong>One down!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Sit down for dinner as a family of <strong>FOUR -- Check!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Try <strong>FIVE</strong> new updos -- <strong>Two down!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Send <strong>SIX </strong>birthday cards</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Spend <strong>SEVEN </strong>days on vacation -- <a href="http://sysadventuresinmotherhood.blogspot.com/2011/12/impromtu-vacation-take-two.html">Destin, Florida</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Put <strong>EIGHT </strong>quarters in expired meters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Read <strong>NINE </strong>new books -- <strong>Three down (Hunger Games series... oh my!)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Run <strong>TEN </strong>miles (at once) again -- yikes... ran 3 this weekend and this will be a task</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">11</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Send <strong>TWELVE </strong>letters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">13</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">14</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">15</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Make my own butter using <strong>SIXTEEN </strong>ounces of milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Celebrate my engagement on March <strong>SEVENTEETH </strong>with my husband</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">18</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">19</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Have all <strong>TWENTY </strong>of my nails (fingers and toes) painted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">21</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">22</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">23</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Make <strong>TWENTY FOUR </strong>cookies from scratch and give them as a gifts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">25</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">26</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Leave <strong>TWENTY SEVEN </strong>comments on my favorite blogs -- just one so far on this for <a href="http://www.lilblueboo.com/" target="_blank">Ashley Hackshaw of Lil Blue Boo</a> and she responded!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Print and frame <strong>TWENTY EIGHT </strong>pictures -- one down!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Write <strong>TWENTY NINE </strong>new blog posts -- six down!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Get rid of <strong>THIRTY </strong>things from my closet -- got rid of SO MUCH more. And it feels great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I'm still looking for suggestions on the outstanding numbers -- any ideas?</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-84833928031691320282011-12-21T22:42:00.002-05:002011-12-21T22:50:23.203-05:00Eight crazy nights...<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Tonight's the second night of Chanukah, and figuring out activities and/or gifts for EIGHT nights this year had been a bit much for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I'm trying to stick to the spirit of "handmade Chanukah" by focusing on doing things together and/or handmade gifts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">For the second night, we made a gingerbread house. (Which, funnily enough, was a Christmas gift. <a href="http://sysadventuresinmotherhood.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-christmakah.html">But we're a non-traditional family, so I'm OK with it</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Ben enjoyed it. And the pre-made house was a great idea. It held his attention for about 30 minutes, then he was ready for bath and bed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">But, he wanted to pose for pictures tonight. My little man's becoming more of a ham, and while I like that he's not fighting me when I pull out the camera, I'm not crazy about all the goofy faces he makes. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1V3y6wMwe3g/TvKmdLpaxzI/AAAAAAAAEqY/FzK4C69rhPI/s1600/IMG_8426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1V3y6wMwe3g/TvKmdLpaxzI/AAAAAAAAEqY/FzK4C69rhPI/s640/IMG_8426.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TqGg72_O5dQ/TvKmg3Nx2VI/AAAAAAAAEqg/K9EPtU4O_UU/s1600/IMG_8429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TqGg72_O5dQ/TvKmg3Nx2VI/AAAAAAAAEqg/K9EPtU4O_UU/s640/IMG_8429.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eIY_WXknA9o/TvKmkYGnu-I/AAAAAAAAEqo/Zew_anc3IfY/s1600/IMG_8431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eIY_WXknA9o/TvKmkYGnu-I/AAAAAAAAEqo/Zew_anc3IfY/s640/IMG_8431.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T4YoC-1aO0c/TvKmodTsWjI/AAAAAAAAEqw/rqb1AD4V91I/s1600/IMG_8433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T4YoC-1aO0c/TvKmodTsWjI/AAAAAAAAEqw/rqb1AD4V91I/s640/IMG_8433.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">But, I guess now that I look at those faces, what's not to love?</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-77062501223944762452011-12-17T10:49:00.000-05:002011-12-17T10:49:32.808-05:00Breastfeeding -- An Adventure of its Own<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.01552723642827647" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me start by saying that breastfeeding is natural thing. It’s also full of health benefits and way cheaper than formula. And while I’ve never found the actual act of breastfeeding </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">that</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> difficult, breastfeeding isn’t easy. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But MAN OH MAN is it hard to breastfeed and work fulltime. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">that</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> much easier to do it while I was at home but I was getting brave. Not carrying my pump everywhere. Feeding Vivi in “mother’s lounges” at the mall or on a bench or my car when I was out and about. We had such a good little system that when I came back to work I had almost NO stash…. And the stress began. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I hated pumping today for tomorrow. Not to mention that my days are so crazy, any hopes of pumping three times a day on a normal basis were out the window on day one. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And did I mention that there are two lactation rooms in our building? Seems like a nice idea, but there are a BA-ZILLION people that work here. And about half of them are women. And, by the way things are working out, it seems 95% of them are breast feeding. Oh, and the building is a quarter mile long (That’s NOT an exaggeration. It really is a quarter mile long.) So if the lactation room closer to me is full, and I walk to the other end of the building… well it just takes forever. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And the constant planning…. And calculating… </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When did she eat? Add three hours to that, so I should pump at 9:30, but I have a 9:00 meeting and if it runs long, I won’t be able to pump until 11, and that would be too long. So maybe I should pump at 8:30, but is that too soon? Ok, if I go with 8:30, then I’ll need to pump twice more before I leave… But someone is talking to me right now and it’s 8:30 right now and if I don’t go by 8:40, then I won’t be back in time for my 9:00.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then there’s… </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How much did she eat? 15 oz!? I pumped only 12 oz. today. I am going to have to dip in to my stash. How much to do I have frozen? How long will that last me? How can I boost my production? I have to get up to 15 oz. per day or my child will STARVE!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But you know what? Six weeks in, I’ve got a pretty good little routine at work. And we have a nice little routine at night. And, I’ve learned that if I can pump only twice a day, it’s OK. I still come home with about the same amount. And water keeps my production up. And drinking water is the one thing that’s actually easier at work. And stress is bad for production. So I’m not stressing anymore. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And you know what else? I stopped breastfeeding Ben at about 4.5 months... and he turned out just fine. So we’ll try and keep this breastfeeding thing up for as long as I can… and, as long as I can avoid walking around with my shirt on inside-out, I’m going to be OK. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-37675534068042896482011-12-13T18:00:00.000-05:002011-12-13T18:00:05.124-05:00Impromtu vacation take two<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So, we did the last minute vacation thing again. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT70pOxlgt4/Tr1i8mXd7eI/AAAAAAAAEp8/oOcCteVrdnE/s1600/IMG_8263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bT70pOxlgt4/Tr1i8mXd7eI/AAAAAAAAEp8/oOcCteVrdnE/s640/IMG_8263.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The week before I went back to work. The week my four-hour freelance project turned into a 16 hour freelance project. When Vivi was only 5 weeks old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">What were we thinking?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We were thinking we needed a getaway. We were thinking we had the time off of work. We were thinking .... it was cheap. Honestly. That's mostly what we were thinking. Brian had the vacation days, I was off of work and rates in Destin, Florida were dirt cheap. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It was wonderful. Toes in the white sand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">The beach to ourselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And snuggling up like alligators in the sun. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gCidCp6UXzk/Tr1geVArCBI/AAAAAAAAEnk/-Xkt4DOvjNk/s1600/IMG_8246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gCidCp6UXzk/Tr1geVArCBI/AAAAAAAAEnk/-Xkt4DOvjNk/s640/IMG_8246.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-36271215196000072842011-12-12T22:32:00.000-05:002011-12-12T22:32:46.507-05:00really? two months?<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It's been two months since my last post? How is that possible?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Oh, I have an 11 week old. You get it, right? I know you do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I should try and recap, but I can't. The past 11 weeks has been a whirlwind of the best kind. A new family member, new routines, new memories and a joy that's familiar but unique. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">There are also familiar challenges. Like, oh, getting out the door fully dressed. Arriving at work on time. Putting meals on the table for the boys. Staying hydrated enough to continue to make food for my baby girl. All worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Every minute. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I'd say I'm back, but no promises. Who knows what tomorrow holds. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="border: 0px currentColor !important;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2704907807639461382.post-36287068684164726022011-10-08T14:07:00.002-04:002011-10-08T14:11:55.572-04:00Kitchen racetrack<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Have a few minutes on a Sunday morning?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Make a racetrack in your kitchen with tape. I saw this idea online somewhere (Pinterest, probably) and have been waiting for a free moment to do it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_clXQ8_7S0FUxjZ5wTfS9g?feat=embedwebsite"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img height="800" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-23Jrp4-Bxbw/TpBIW-VSlwI/AAAAAAAAEGA/V9hp8Ju-Xnc/s800/IMG_7906.JPG" width="534" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Pretty self explanatory -- my only tip is to buy your painters' tape at the dollar store. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And to get creative with "obstacles" ...</span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y4L86kHAQBtTvTb0U1nbEg?feat=embedwebsite"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img height="534" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hnHP38vKdkw/TpBIYvCk5dI/AAAAAAAAEGI/gK2wzYH1q_g/s800/IMG_7913.JPG" width="800" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/e6w0dDV224VHs0nthJgHTg?feat=embedwebsite"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img height="800" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3G1AuefQpCI/TpBIZeyUu3I/AAAAAAAAEGM/1R2dxJudFL4/s800/IMG_7917.JPG" width="534" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">(you know, the usual obstacles... a sign, traffic cones, an alien, Tow Mater and a photographer...) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">and to create ramps with pieces of a pizza box... </span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2iAN8wT8JoYPEZMsuVoPuQ?feat=embedwebsite"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img height="534" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IQYaP5VFoYo/TpBIbqCPlLI/AAAAAAAAEGY/K4eM5TqSiQQ/s800/IMG_7939.JPG" width="800" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">and to get ready to fish cars out from under appliances...</span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Sl-Ibqghe2VGVnB66p7ZHQ?feat=embedwebsite"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img height="534" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oBIkE9XuqnU/TpBIXy6xyiI/AAAAAAAAEGE/wrTJeSFcOVI/s800/IMG_7912.JPG" width="800" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And to enjoy. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/39/8C6404FC29DB6D4BCABB765427AC8EF7.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></span></a>slaenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889713531192905726noreply@blogger.com0