Clean!!

Yesterday I washed Diapers and hung them out on the line. They were Soooo pretty. It was a smaller load, but it still filled up all three lines on the clothesline.


We also did come bubble blowing and playing outside in the yard. We walked around the whole yard and Ardyn smelled the blossoms on the crabapple trees, investigated the fencing, and helped me plant a container with flowers.




Today was an awesome day! The kids were up at 7:15, and we got an early start to the day. We all got dressed, and Ardyn wore a pair of recycled wool board shorties from Picasso Tums. Marek wore a interlock wool set from Wild Child Woolies (WCW) that we got from another mamma on Diaperswappers. Today Marek was 6 weeks old.


Before noon, I had cleaned, vacuumed, and mopped the kitchen, pantry, both kids' bedrooms, dining room, living room, and front porch. In the afternoon I read some of my book while the kids napped, and then fell asleep myself. When I woke up, I found out that the cornfield behind our house was on fire, as someone was burning garbage and it got away from them. That was exciting, especially considering there is a natural gas station between our house and the cornfield.

I have diapers to fold tonight, and ice cream to eat.... so everyone have a nice night!

Pictures from our Zoo Trip!!

Well, the Mother's Day trip to the zoo was AWESOME. For all you flickr friends, there are a TON of pics on there (about 300!) and I have a whole CD of pics that my mom took with her camera that I hope to get uploaded tonight. We had such a great time, and the weather was just WONDERFUL. Ardyn LOVED the animals. Here's a few pics:


Marek and Ardyn with their animals:

Marek sleeping:
Mom and Marek on the Zoo train ride:
Ardyn with Grandpa Dave and Grandma Deb:
Ardyn in the tulips:
Daddy and Aunt Liz with Ardyn, in the petting zoo:
Mom and Ardyn Monkeying Around:
Marek enjoying the weather:
Mom and Ardyn on the Endangered Species Carousel:
Mom and Ardyn:
Ardyn and Daddy in the tulips:
Ardyn and a goat who licked her and made her giggle hysterically:
Aunt Liz and Ardyn with the Elephants:
Dad, Mom, and Ardyn:
Mom, Marek, and Ardyn at home before the Zoo, in my Mother's Day Gift, a white Rocker for the yard:
I had a wonderful day. This has been the best Mother's Day in my history, and I will never forget it!

I need a bigger corkboard. LOL.

I need a bigger corkboard. LOL. , originally uploaded by Dazed81.

tired and sore

it feels a lot later than 10pm. It feels like 1am to my body today. I don't think I got enough sleep last night, and today was a little trying.

Firstly I haven't seen much of Evan because he has had three band practices this week, and tonight he had a gig playing a local poker run. That meant that today he had to go and set-up and do sound check, and is gone all night tonight. He should be done playing within the hour, but they will have to take down all their gear, and they will probably stay for a few drinks afterwards. I was planning on staying up till he got home, but I am exhausted.

Yesterday I went to Peoria. I met Brenda for lunch and it was really nice. Marek and I spent a leisurely couple of hours wandering through JoAnn. I am working on making side-snapping trainers for Ardyn for potty training. I am excited to get to use my snap press some more. I have the Stellar Transitions trainer pattern, and plan on making the side snapping option and later making underwear style trainers if necessary. I have all my fabric, it's washed and prepped, and I cut one pair out... to sew and test sizing before I go crazy sewing. Luckily knits were 50% off and fleece was 30% off, so I got some anti-pill fleece to make some covers for the kids.... starting with some Smalls for Marek. I improvised the Crescent Moon Yoga Pants Pattern (also by Little Comet Tails) to include a hammock style internal soaker for the pants, which adds a double layer of protection in the wetzone, and looks like a pair of shorties inside the pants. I improvised on the first try without screwing up. I haven't sewn for several months, because we had water in the basement and then we were all really sick and then I had Marek. My brain wanted to get back into sewing but I needed something that was simple enough to start with, and also something that was going to inspire me to get back at it, especially when I would rather go to sleep than sew. LOL.

I whipped up a navy pair of fleece yoga pants tonight for Marek, and when he wakes up I will try them on him for size and mark them for a hem. Then I plan on doing Christina's boppy covers, which I wanted to start but didn't want to screw them up in a sleepy haze. They are already cut and ready, so I should be able to crank them out in no time if I get a few minutes peace. Once I get my FOE (Foldover Elastic) I will sew the 1st pair of trainers and see if they fit Ardyn before I cut more. I got some cute Monkey Print knit and another cute zoo print knit. They are both Gender Neutral, which is great because I can later use them for Marek and any future kids. I'm going to use Microfiber for the internal soaker to start with, because I have it, and it's inexpensive, and holds alot, and absorbs quickly. I am just going to do a top layer of knit print, two microfiber layers, a fleece layer, and finally a bottom PUL Layer. This should make them more waterproof, and absorbant than store bought trainers, but will hopefully allow her to KNOW when she is wet and be a little uncomfortable.

I am really missing my Serger, but these projects can easily be done on the sewing machine, and in fact because of their tight curves and small sizing, I would probably prefer the sewing machine. The serger won't go through four layers of fleece anyway.

After going to the fabric store and out for lunch yesterday, Marek and I went to a really neat nursery and greenhouse and looked at Eastern Redbud trees. Then we came home and went to get Ardyn from school. It was a busy day. I had gotten up in the night with BOTH kids, as Ardyn had somehow accidentally gotten some milk and was having cramping and diahrrhea, and a burning bleeding bottom. Poor kid. Once I got her changed and calmed and rocked back to sleep, it was already 5am. I tossed and turned till , then fed Marek, took a shower, then got both kids up and ready, took Ardyn to school, went to the chiropractor, the post office, and then to the Doctor. By that night I was exhausted. And then while I was gone, Evan had another issue with the crazy neighbor, who was yelling at the utility company representative who was here to mark the underground utilities for JULIE, before we put up our fence next week. We ended up having to file another report with the police about her behavior. I can't wait till the fence is up. Can. Not. Wait!

Then while Evan was at band practice, I packed up both kids, went to eat supper, and then took them on an evening walk. I got clear across town and a storm moved in, and I speed walked, pushing that heavy double stroller, all the way home, and just barely made it before it cut loose raining. I was sore and tired by then!

I meant to go to bed early last night, and I was EXHAUSTED by 10pm, but I was prepping my new fabric, and washing diapers, and my clothes, and Evan's clothes, and the kids' clothes, and before I knew it I was exhausted on the couch at 1am wishing I was in bed. And then I was up at 5am. And finally was able to sleep till 7:30 when I got up and gave both kids a bath and got them and myself ready to go to Mother's Day dinner at great Grandma's house. But first I had to go shopping with both kids for Mother's Day gifts, and go to Wal-Mart to get my photos picked up and look for Gripe Water (which they did NOT have.)

Poor Marek hasn't pooped since Wednesday! That is so unlike him, as he is a once a day pooper, at least. He has been so fussy and gassy and uncomfortable. I finally ended up calling the ped tonight, after several days of infant massage techniques, warm relaxing baths pouring water over his belly, and moving his legs up into his tummy. I really feel for him. I wasn't sure if I should be trying gripe water, or anti-gas drops, or pear juice, or suppositories. The ped said I had been doing everything right, and suggested that I try a rectal temp to get things going, and then if that didn't work, try pear juice, 1 ounce at a time, up to 4 ounces a day, to see if things start moving. He also said I could try glycerin suppository if that didn't work. Well, I did the rectal temp with no results, and then I gave him 1oz of pear juice with no results yet. He has been sleeping for about an hour and a half now, so in about 30 minutes I will wake him, change him, and give him another ounce.... then give him his medicine and breastfeed him and put him to bed for the night. He's happily swinging right now. Poor guy. When he does get going, I am sure it will be a blowout, and I REALLY hope that happens BEFORE we get to the Zoo on Mother's Day tomorrow!

It's pretty depressing tonight, that everyone got to go listen to Evan's band play and I stay home with the kids. That's what sucks about having younger, hipper grandparents and a single aunt... They all have plans and are always doing some project, and don't babysit on weekends much. So that leaves me home. Oh well. Pity party for me.

Well, my neck is killing me, so I think I will lay on the heating pad and watch something on TIVO before I have to take care of the baby and go to sleep. Have a good night!

~*The Perfect Day?*~

Today has been eerily easy. I am just tiptoeing around, waiting for the other shoe to drop, and for all holy hell to break loose. Even yesterday was a little too nice.

Over the weekend we went to Menard's and ordered our fencing. We had a nice nice trip and the irony of the whole thing was that when we GOT to Menard's, and walked up to the fencing, who was standing there looking at it, but our bitchy neighbor, who is the whole REASON we decided to get a fence. LOL. She burned us a look and waited for her boyfriend and then they left. It was great.

Sunday night we went to my parents for a bit, just the kids and I, and ate supper with them. Then Evan watched the kids while I went for a late walk with Lisa.

Monday I don't remember a whole lot about, we had a weigh in appointment at WIC for Marek, and I took both kids, and the appointment took FOREVER. Then we went to Sullivan's and got a few essentials like Milk, Juice, Eggs, Bread. That night I took both kids for a walk. That night my friend Anya also had her baby boy, Adyn Elliot.

Tuesday (yesterday) we went to Evan's Grandma's house where the guys were pouring concrete. Great Grandma watched Ardyn and Marek for about an hour while I walked to the hospital and saw the baby and visited with Anya and Brad. Then we stayed at Grandma's for lunch and the kids and I went on to Wal-Mart. Last night we ordered some supper. They sent Ardyn a cheeseburger instead of mini corn dogs, so she had to share with Evan. I was upset because that's the second time IN A ROW that we have ordered food to go from that restraunt and gotten the wrong order. that night after the kids went to sleep, I ran back to WalMart to return something that I had gotten earlier in the day that was broken when I got home and took it out of the box.

This morning started well. Marek and Ardyn slept till about 8:30. I nursed Marek and got Ardyn up, changed her diaper, and got her dressed. Just as I was finishing her pigtails, I heard a LOUD semi pull up alongside the house, and we peeked out the window to see that our FENCE was being delivered! YAY! It was the coolest thing, the driver unhooked the trailer from the Semi tractor and the BACK of the Semi became a forklift. How Transformers is That?! Totally cool. So he unloaded all the supplies for the fence.

I got Marek changed and dressed, and myself dressed, and pushed Ardyn in the swing for a while. Marek was napping so I fed Ardyn her cereal and started cleaning. I got the living room and dining room clean, and the DINING ROOM TABLE CLEARED (Whoo!) and then changed the easter tablecloth out and put all the spring decorations away. I dusted. then I picked up in Ardyn's room and in Marek's room, and put some things in clear containers and labeled them. I washed Diapers. I blew bubbles. I nursed Marek again and wiped Ardyn's nose a thousand times. After a diaper change, Ardyn said "Mommy, I want to poop in the potty!" and ran to the bathroom and started shaking the doorknob. I let her in and she sat on there for a while, and we sang songs, but no pooping. Oh well. When she got down, I said "look in there, do you see any poop?" and she looked. And Looked. And LOOKED in the potty. She looked at me, and I said "Where did the poop go? I thought you were going to poop in the potty?" and she looked at me and then turned around to look at her naked butt, in case the poop was somewhere to be found. LOL. Cracked me up.

At lunchtime she came walking in to the living rooom where I was cleaning and said "Eat Eat!" and I was thinking "My GOD what will I feed this kid!?" I am working on a grocery list so we can go get some food.... she said "Soup! I eat Soup!" and thank GOD we had one can of soup left. So while she was eating soup, I started planting Herbs in my kitchen Herb gardens, on the newly cleared and clean Dining room table.

I was talking to her about planting seeds in the dirt and giving them water and watching them grow and I looked up and she was half asleep, eyes closed, spoon still in her mouth, head nodding forward. I laughed and said her name and she lazily opened her eyes and I said "I think you're done." We washed her hands and face (which we now do in the bathroom sink with her stool, which she LOVES) and then changed her diaper and put her to bed for naptime.

Marek is still sleeping, the diapers are in the dryer, the wetbags hanging dry, and I just ate my lunch. I plan on cleaning the kitchen next, but I think that Marek will be up soon to eat again... so I might just wait until after that, assuming that he goes back to sleep. I can feel the milk coming in already.

Yes, today is a very good day. I have my post office packages ready, and assuming the rain stays away we will take an afternoon walk after naptime and get the package mailed, and pick up the mail. Otherwise we will probably drive.

Well, maybe I can get the other three Herbs planted before he wakes. Have a nice week!

My Mother's Day Present

My Mother's Day Present, originally uploaded by Dazed81.

just arrived today! And I love it! I am so excited, I hope that I can find time to sew myself a cool cushion that's one of a kind!

A tough week.

It's been a LONG hard week. A stressful week. I had my 4 week postpartum checkup and Ardyn had her allergy testing. Our days without Zyrtec are behind us, but it will take a full 7 days before her nighttime coughing and the endless snotty nose are behind us.

I am grateful for Friday, because Ardyn is at school, and she desperately needed the time away, outside, and with little friends. But then of course there comes the paranoia that Swine Flu will infiltrate the daycare and she will catch it and then we will all catch it and then my children will fall ill and could be killed. But I try to keep things like that from dominating my thoughts. And I tell myself that it isn't fair to keep her from daycare because of Swine flu. However I have decided that if and when it gets to our area, she is not going to daycare anymore. And Evan completely agrees with that. I just hope that by then it isn't too late.

Marek and I had errands to do this morning, so after taking Ardyn to school, we took the loaner car back and picked up the van at the dealership. The tires were rotated and the brakes checked. All is well. Then we went to the hospital where I had a blood draw for my postpartum thyroid testing. I like to have blood drawn from the back of my hand, because otherwise I tend to pass out. It usually goes well, but today the vein blew out. Of course I was lucky enough to have this happen AFTER she got enough blood, but it did hurt like hell and it is already really bruised and my hand hurts. Oh well. Minor.

Then we ran to Subway and grabbed some lunch to bring home, and I stopped at the post office and picked up the mail and several packages of newly arrived diapers. When I got home we changed Marek, I fed him, and then opened the packages to happily discover 11 used Newborn Mutts. Ahhh. And two pairs of babyology longies, which will ALL come in so handy. Now that I have a rotation of 3 babyologies for night, and 15 diapers, I am thrilled. I need to sell the KL0's because they just aren't absorbant enough to use with wool. I am hesitant to do so, in case I need backups... so I am not sure if I should look for more Mutts or just wait till he outgrows the nb size to sell the KL0's. But I do have three more mutts coming, so that's a total of 18 NB Dipes (not counting the KL0's and the WAHM ones that I have) and I have prefolds for backup. He really doesn't do too well with PUL covers, so I have to find myself a wool wrap that I am happy with, that is trim enough to wear under clothes, AND that won't wick under clothes.

I have put Goodmamas on him twice now, at night, just without the soaker, and they seem to work okay. It won't be too long until he can wear them everyday all day, like Ardyn. I am excited about that but I am now worried that there is no way I will have enough, after seeing how fast he is going through diapers. Luckily the NB Mutts should still fit for a good amount of time. Thank goodness my babies start out long and skinny! I was able to grab 5 used Goodmamas on Diaperswappers for about $100. That was a great deal, especially considering it included postage. The same 5 diapers new would run me $175, so I got a killer deal.

I sold all my 9 Bum Genius Aio's in XS, and my pink thirsties covers, and a thirsties fab fitted, and a piddle poddle, and all but 2 of my piddle poddles are sold also. I still have a dozen toddler prefolds to sell.

Marek and I are having a relaxing afternoon at home. I should be cleaning this horrific place, but it's a day to relax my mind and body. I finally opened up the Little Comet Tails patterns I have for fleece covers and for the Stellar transisions Toddler Training pants. I am sure I can make these for Ardyn, but the pattern directions already have my head swimming. I hate that. Usually I can sit down and read a pattern in advance (i always do) and instantly know what's going on and get excited about it. But some patterns (especially poorly written ones) have a way of getting me all confused and un-motivated. I think that what I need for real motivation is to buy just a bit of cute fabric to try out. I have a nice stash to start with, but no knits, which I will need for the side panels of the trainers, to make them stretchy. And I also don't know that I have any FOE (foldover elastic.) I am excited because the pattern makes not only pull on style trainers and underwear, but side snapping trainers. AND you can customize your absorbency and use PUL to add a waterproof layer in the wetzone, so that you don't have the leaks you have with store bought trainers.

So Marek is alternately nursing and snoozing on my lap, and I am considering taking an afternoon nap. Evan took three packages of Diapers to the post office to ship them for me, so technically I have nowhere to be until I have to pick up Ardyn. I have one load of diapers finishing up in the washer, and another ready to go in. I think I will just put that first load in the dryer and then start the second load, and lay down with Marek for a little snooze.... ahhh.

Behind a port-a-potty tank truck.... Which says "yesterday's meals on wheels" Eeeww! LOL!

You know that thing they do, where you nurse and burp and swaddle and then you both lie down to sleep, and then they POO and you have to start all over? Man I hate that!

Wool, Fleece, and Fitted Goodness

I'm going to TRY to make this quick. because I want to go to bed. AND because if I am not going to bed, I want to READ. A book.

Things have been okay here. Weather was really nice, and now we are having the bouts of rain about every day. I have been able to get a few things on the clothesline, which has been nice, and tonight I look forward to sleeping on freshly line dried sheets. Ahhh. Assuming that I get much sleep between nursing and changing the baby and Ardyn's all night coughing. Her Allergist appointment is tomorrow and we are on Day 7 of no Zyrtec, which is pure hell, coughing, whining, and snotty nose. I can't wait to get this over with. I actually considered several times just cancelling the damn appointment and putting her back on the Zyrtec because she is miserable and she is making everyone else miserable. She is SO whiney, mostly when Evan is around. When he leaves the house, she seems to snap back to her normal self. Usually.

Evan made us Tacos for supper. She wore most of hers, and I ate mine with Marek attached to my boobs. We read Michael Recycle before bedtime and now she has been coughing ever since. I think we will give her a cough supressant here in a bit, but the longer we can wait, the better, since it only actually helps for 6 hours.

I've been dilligently working on selling diapers and buying up what we need for summer for the kids. I had originally bought 9 Bum Genius All-In-Ones in XS to use for Marek, but they are NOT working for us. I have discovered that we would be better off with more Newborn Mutts, and of course her store is closed right now so I can't just ORDER them, so I had to start doing major searches to find some from other mammas. I have sought out 14 of them, well actually more like 9, the rest are Kind-Hearted Woman and other similar fitteds that came as part of a lot with the Mutts that I bought from one mamma. I have discovered that I am just not happy with fitteds that don't have a soaker. I should know this by now I guess. I prefer Goodmamas. I prefer Mutts. Fitteds like KL0's and MEOS and thirsties fab fitteds are just to THIN and I hate them with wool and fleece. Too much wetness. KLO's are probably the best with a PUL cover, and I don't mind using them. And MEOS are good in a pinch. Thirsties Fab Fitteds are worthless to us. I have also discovered that I LOVE Wool for Marek. He is such a sleepy baby, that the PUL aren't my favorites, because he sleeps so much that he is really soaked at changing time, and if he has on a thinner fitted, and PUL, there is no breathing and he gets red and irritated skin really easily. He can sleep for 4 hours at night no problem, but wakes up soaked. Last night for the first time I put him in Babyology Longies and a Fitted and got the best results overnight... with no red skin at all in the morning. the PUL covers even give him red skin around his legs, because the inside of the cover gets so damp that I have to change it several times a night also. Ugh. Basically I want something that works well and that I don't have to wake him to change him. Who wants to WAKE a baby who is sleeping just to change a diaper? No way.

So today I scored two more pair of babyology longies used, and that makes three after the pair that I bought new on eBay. Here he is modeling them last night before bed.


I have been trying to line up shorts and skirties for Ardyn and Marek for summer. i have already gotten Marek lots of XS Wool, here are the ones that are the newest.... that I bought AFTER he was born.

Fleece Farm Pants:


Top Left- Babyology Longies; Top Right- Knit Wool Longies; Bottom Left- Wool Interlock Jeans; Bottom Right- our Second pair of Woolybottoms Footies.


I also have two REALLY Cute Monster Fluff Studio Embroidered Fleece Sets in Small for Marek. I am surprised at how BIG the smalls run, so I hope he fits into them by July/August!
Sneaky Snake Soaker and Shirt Set


Go Green tree Hugger Shirt and Shortie Set


Things I bought BEFORE he arrived:


His coming home outfit:


Charcoal Knit Longies:


1st Pair of Woolybottoms/goodmama Collaboration:


SOME of what I have coming in the mail:
Wild Child Woolies Sets for Marek in Small

Blue Striped Babyology Longies (both pair on top)

Gecko Shorties for Marek (were on clearance):

Three Pair of recycled/Interlock Shorties for Ardyn (all three were on clearance):
Red and White Shorties
Charcoal and Pink Shorties
Navy and Turquoise Peace Shorties


A beautiful pair of Interlock Shorties by Rainbow Waters for Ardyn:


Newborn Fitteds (mostly Mutts)

Saturday. Feels Like a Sunday.

A rainy day. Overcast but still nice. The windows are all open, the kids are both napping. I was lucky enough to take a bubble bath practically un-interrupted. I got one leg halfway shaved when the baby started crying. Decision: Shave only one leg and go get baby while cutting bathtime short? Shave both legs and risk Marek waking Ardyn resulting in TWO children awake? Hmmm. Well, I got both shaved. And he put himself back to sleep. Thank God.

Of course Evan has a gig tonight, and so I said "before you leave I want to take a bath" and was prepared to hand him the baby and have him take care of Ardyn. then Ardyn started to fall asleep where she was, and he put her down for a nap, and Marek fell asleep after nursing. I put him in th ebouncy seat. The band called Evan and said they needed his help setting up and so here was Meagan, in the bathtub, taking her sought after bath, when Marek decided to wake up. Murphy's Law I tell you!

I meant to blog this last week, but things were a little busy and the weather was SO nice. Marek had his pediatrician appointment on Tuesday, and is 8lbs 14ounces. He's also grown an inch longer at 21.5 inches now. He was 3 weeks old exactly the day we weighed him. We started him on a prescription of Zantac 3 times a day, to help with the reflux. So far, I think it is helping. I am getting more regular burps from him and less spitting up, although he still has his moments (like today.) We have not had a milk out the nose incident since starting the meds Tuesday afternoon. (knock on wood!) The pediatrician is happy with everything, and I am too.

Thursday was Ardyn's appointment with the Pediatric GI. We saw Dr. Deutsch, and he was young, attractive, personable, and knowledgeable. And very impressively, he knew exactly who Boots and Swiper were, so it was an instant hit with both mom AND Ardyn. He also let Ardyn play with his flashlight. She was cool with him. He is happy with her development and we chatted about her dairy allergy. He is very confident that her Soy intolerance was actually a Soy Allergy. He described how there are two types of allergic reactions, one being immediate (hives, difficulty breathing, vomiting, etc) and delayed (diarrhea, etc) and because Ardyn has a delayed reaction, her allergies can not be detected by blood and skin testing. That was very interesting to me and I am glad that we know that, because next week she goes for allergy testing with the allergist.

On that note, she can't take Zyrtec for 7 days prior to her allergist visit, but she can take benadryl up to the two days before her visit. I didn't think much of that, but we stopped the Zyrtec on Monday night, and by Thursday night she was in bad bad shape. Her poor little body! Now I know just how much she needs the Zyrtec. She was up coughing, crying, tossing and turning for HOURS. Finally we gave her a cough supressant and she got some sleep. Poor thing. The next morning her eyes were crusted shut and her nose was all crusty. I had to change her sheets because there was so much snot on them! We actually let her sleep in for two hours on Friday and took her to school late, because she had been up so much the night before. ugh. She's doing okay with the benadryl now that I have started to give it twice a day, but it doesn't help as much as the Zyrtec... can't wait till this is over and she can go back to it.

This coming week is also my 4-week postpartum checkup.

Today we watched the new DVD "Elmo goes Green." It is SUPER cute. It might be a little old for Ardyn, but Evan and I were both entertained by it. Paul Rudd is delicious (like a mini Patrick-Dempsey) and he plays "Mr Earth" so it's really neat. They show lots of mini-sections about how different people recycle materials to make new things, like paper from the fabric of clothes and rags, and glass figurines from melted down glass bottles, and handbags from used plastic shoping bags. Ardyn is too young to understand most of that, but she did like all the music videos in the DVD.

This week the new Video baby Monitors came. I got the bebesounds monitor with a 2.5" color screen. It's a completely wireless and portable system, both the receiver and the cameras can operate on batteries. Super cool. The receiver comes with rechargeable batteries, and they charge when you plug the unit in, which is neat. We have two cameras (one in each kids' bedroom) and they have night vision. There is some minor interference that I am experiencing with the receiver, and sometimes repositioning it will help. Not sure what causes it, supposedly they are unaffected by Wireless devices, which we have plenty of.

Been on diaperswappers lately, getting a few size small things for Marek to grow into this summer and also selling some girly stuff and diapers that we just don't use. Also selling all the Halo sleep sack swaddles that I have around. Trying to get a few more NB Muttaquin Diapers, because they are what work for us and fit the best.

Well, gotta go, more another day!

Good Day, Sunshine!

Okay, maybe not. But the sun'll come out, tomorrow.... right? YES it will! And today has been a good day! Marek and I had to go to the pediatrician today for his first "official" follow up. I know we have been there twice, and had the Upper GI, but this was our "original" appointment. Marek is 3 weeks old today! he weighed 8lbs 14ounces (which puts him up 14 ounces from birth) and was 21.5 inches long. He's a growing boy! We have started him on Zantac to see if that helps with his gassy reflux issues. His appointment went really well. I just love our pediatrician! I can't say enough good things about him!

Afterwards, Marek and I went on our errands. I had an Arby's Roastburger for the first time. it was an interesting taste. it hit the spot, but I could have done without the mustard and pickles. I don't know if I will get one again, just because I love me some giant roast beef as it is... and I might just go back to that. Then we went back to the bra store and I got two more nursing bras. They are expensive, and I felt guilty, but seriously, wearing two cup sizes too small is just not an option. Once I got two that fit, I was unable to wear the old ones again. it made me feel like my boobs were in a vice. So I got two more. Four bras now! Woot! And I also got some soak wash, that is made for lingerie and fine washables. I am right now washing the two new bras. I feel all special and pampered, to have four new comfy bras and this fabulously nice soap to wash them in. Ahhh... pampered. If you are local, and need a new bra, or want to be measured, you have to go to Girlfriends, and give them my name for referring me. The ladies there were SUPER nice, and even happy to see me show up with a baby in tow and help me get fitted and measured and overall it's a beautiful store and a great experience. Check out their website...

So, right now BOTH kids are napping. Mwwwaaaahahaha! I cleaned up the kitchen some more (read: cleaned up my husband's mess from last night and from Ardyn's lunch mess) and then I started some laundry and made a chart for us to track Marek's Medicine so we don't OD him. marek and I went to the Mart today to get a few more pacifiers, and some lightbulbs. We use the Nuk pacifiers because they seem easier for a little person to keep in their mouths, and this time I opted to try two of the Playtex paciciers because they have the similar shape as a NuK, and because they have this new fangled pacifier sterilizer that attaches to your pacifier, that comes in the package. It's just a snap-on plastic piece that acts as a steam sterilizer. Wherever you are, you just snap the paci in the plastic piece after adding water, and microwave it to steam sterilize. Aha! Worth a try. Yesterday Ardyn put Marek's pacifier back in for him, when he was crying. it was so cute, I took pictures (see Flickr.) Today when grandma Deb was here, Marek was crying and Grandma was holding him shushing, and Ardyn said "Marek Needs a Fire!" (that's what we called pacifiers when she was little) Damn she's smart!

Last night I started going crazy cleaning the kitchen. The clutter in this place is about to drive me bonkers. And now Ardyn can reach countertops and tables. Ahhh! It's like every horizontal surface is a catchall for things she can't have, and now she can reach all of them. Not her fault. MUST. CLEAN. SURFACES. So last night I cleaned the kitchen and washed stoneware and cleaned off the hutch. I was pleased. Next comes the dining room table and the computer desk. I guess I COULD be doing that now, but I am not in the mood.

I can't wait for the rest of this week! The weather is about to go FABULOUSLY warmer, it's supposed to be in the 80's by Friday and Saturday! I am excited, because we have the sandbox, and all the easter toys that we got like Bubbles and balls and pinwheels and things. AND we have the tractor and wagon to assemble, and Ardyn's Tricycle should be here before the day is over (where IS the UPS guy?) I've got sunscreen ready for both kids, and we are going to get OUT of this house!!

Today I got Ardyn the foam letters and numbers for the bathtub, and when I got home she took a bath and LOVED them. She would stick them to the sides of the tub and say her alphabet, and try to identify letters. It was so cute when she was cleaning up, the letter "G" got stuck to her little naked butt. I took pictures of that.... don't worry! But you will have to be a Flicr friend to see them!

Well, that's all for now. Take care! Enjoy the weather!

Short and Sweet

What to do tonight. Laundry? Dishes? Diapers? Catch up on TIVO? Read a book? If only there was enough time to do several of those. The kitchen's a wreck, but Evan said he's cleaning it, so really I should ignore it. I do have diapers to put in the dryer, and another load on the bed that need folded... and a load of kids clothes that need sorted and folded. I have a bunch of stuff on TIVO but I don't know if my attention span would allow me to finish any show... but maybe if I have to do laundry, I can fold on the couch and watch the shows at the same time, and kill two things on the list.

Ardyn did not want to go to bed, or more accurately, she did not want me to stop reading books. Today I read her "llama llama mad at mamma" which is one of MY favorite books, and she wanted me to read it again tonight, after I already read her book for the night. It was hard to decline. We got a few new books today, one of them being Michael Recycle. I LOVE this book. It even holds Ardyn 's attention, the pictures are really neat and it rhymes. I am a sucker for a rhyming book. A few of my other favorites, off the top of my head, include I Ain't Gonna Paint No More, and books by David Shannon. (We have Oh David, Oops, Pirates Don't Change Diapers, David Gets in Trouble, and Good Boy Fergus.) But really we have so many books here that I can't keep track of them all, and I can't even REMEMBER them all. But that's not a bad thing. Ardyn is constantly reading, and whenever I make her bed I have to separate all the covers and pull the books out from between them because she reads in bed all the time. I love that she loves to read. I love to read. It's the best pastime she could have!

Today we also got a HUGE Sticker book. It's full of stickers from Toddler TV on Nickelodean. Dora, Diego, Blues Clues, Backyardigans, etc. It was a $12 book, and I wasn't thrilled because I thought she needed to be much older to appreciate it, but then Evan said "Well, I thought it would be a good thing to have on hand for rewards... like when she is good, or when she uses the potty" and I was like "OH YEAH!" and so we got it. And Miraculously, tonight we had our first poop on the big potty! She was in the bathtub, and so was Marek, and she squatted down and accidentally pooped! I whisked them both out of the tub and put her right on the potty and she sat there and pooped, and let me wipe her, and then flushed. She did really well and so we gave her a sticker. LOL. I was thinking tonight that I should make her a chart for stickers, because we are having a hard time remembering if we brushed teeth or took vitamins, etc.... because Evan and I are both doing stuff with both kids. if we had a sticker chart, then she could get a sticker when she takes her vitamins, and a sticker when she brushes her teeth, and then Evan and I would know that we got those things done, and wouldn't duplicate them. And I think she would enjoy it. Assuming that she can grasp the concept, and I feel that she can. I found a free online chore chart generator, that I think I will use for now. I have some BIG paper that I can hand-make one that will last longer, but at this time I can't see myself accomplishing that, so I will just go with this for now. http://www.dltk-cards.com/chart/ and chartjungle.com

I figure to start out, we will have Brushing teeth, Taking Vitamins, Feeding her Fish, Using the Potty, and Cleaning up Toys before Bed. She does all these things now, (except using the potty, which I would like to start at least once a day) and so the chart should help us be more consistent and give her a reward. Chart Jungle has some cool Potty Training Charts.... http://www.chartjungle.com/toddler.html

Well, so far I haven't accomplished anything and I need to go to bed soon, so it's time to get out of here!

Decisions, Decisions.

It's difficult to be as impatient as I am. That might be hard to understand to someone who isn't as impatient or determined as I am, but it really is difficult. I have always been the type of person who thinks of something, and practically puts the idea into motion before I have even finished having the idea. When I make up my mind about something, it's not easy to be the person standing in my way.

My mom always had a saying that she credited to her mom. It's probably the one saying that will stick with me forever, and I know that I will say it to my own kids, and I still say it to myself all the time. "Where there's a will, there's a way." I have to say, I am a pretty strong willed person. And if you tell me no, or tell me it can't be done, I will find a way.

But really, it can be a difficult way to live everyday life. It's a good thing to be determined, because you almost always get what you want. Not because others hand it to you, but because you go and GET what you want. You are independent, you are successful. It is very difficult to be in a relationship with someone who doesn't share this determination. I appreciate the balance in our relationship, but when I say "that lightbulb needs changed" I mean it needs changed today. or MAYBE tomorrow. Actually, what I really mean, is "that lightbulb needs changed and it's driving me crazy. I would totally do it myself but if I keep doing everything myself me head will fucking explode and I will have a nervous breakdown. So because you are the man of the house, I bestow upon you the responsibility for things like mowing the yard, taking out the garbage, and changing lightbulbs. You will also be required to assemble things, hang things, carry things, and do many other husband-related tasks. And because I see you are sitting on the couch with the remote in your hand, or laying in bed while I am taking care of two kids, I mean that the lightbulb needs to be changed now, so get off your ass and contribute." But generally I just say "Please change the lightbulb in the kitchen." and then, I wait. For weeks. And Weeks. And every damn time I walk into the kitchen I see that the lightbulb is burnt out (did I mention my attention to detail that is really seriously bordering on OCD?) and it's like nails on a chalkboard and it's all I can do to not go postal over that damn lightbulb.

Same thing with the whole "the bathroom garbage is overflowing and your daughter thinks it's cool to get into it and pick out things like used Qtips and stick them in her ears and nose." or how about "The dog (who yes, I did bring home from the shelter because I felt sorry for him, and he has been my responsibility up until the time we had two children and I could no longer care for EVERY FUCKING PERSON in this house and so now I am just asking you to be a little more proactive about taking them outside because I have a kid attached to my boob and another one who needs a diaper changed and a drink and her hair brushed) has peed on the porch again and please clean it up for me so that no one (including your toddler) steps in it and so that when a guest arrives they don't have to step in dog piss as soon as they walk in the door" Turns into "it's been twelve hours and you have left this house three times today and never cleaned up the dog pee and now I have to spend time out of the two hours I get of peace and quiet to clean up dog pee along with rinsing poopy diapers, washing laundry, folding laundry, feeding the baby, and getting myself ready for bed. But hey, I didn't need a shower today anyway, so it's cool."

That's what it's like to be an impatient person living with someone who has not a care in the world. Your head borders on exploding on practically a daily basis. You constantly wrangle with tiny decisions that should, in fact, be miniscule... and not really affect your day at all. But instead, deciding if you should just empty that garbage yourself, change that damn lightbulb, clean up that dog pee, or take that wrapper to the garbage because he left it on the coffee table.... can be the decision that leaves you teetering on the edge or pretty much just pushes you right over it. You are constantly prioritizing things like "What's more important, changing that lightbulb or going pee." or how about "Eat a meal yourself or fold the load of clothes your husband left in the dryer so that you can put your kid's diapers in next." These are the kind of things that make an impatient person a neurotic person. And before you have kids, it's entirely possible to do all of these things yourself. It's entirely possible to work a full-time job with overtime, use a drill to put anchors in the walls and hang pictures, carry loads of things to the attic, change every lightbulb that burns out, take out the garbage and the recycling, and even mow the yard now and then. But then there comes a time where you see your husband doing whatever he wants while you run the whole freaking show, and it starts to really get on your nerves. And it's a treacherous thing, trying to restore that balance of responsibilities once you have taken them all on yourself. But that's what being impatient gets you. You can't stand the sight of things that need to be done and therefore you just keep on doing all of them. And then pretty soon you are the one doing everything and you are getting royally screwed over.

This is when I learned that feminism is all well and good, but there is something to be said for playing the part of the helpless woman who needs her husband to get the ladder and reach that fixture. I am FAR from a helpless woman but at this stage in my life I have fully learned my lesson. I have nothing to prove. To anyone, let alone my partner. I am not ashamed to act like I can't change a lightbulb. I am not ashamed to pretend I don't even know where the recycling station is. I have had to come to terms with the clean plates stacked improperly, or the towels folded and stacked WITHOUT the folds neatly facing out of the linen closet. These are the sacrifices that I make as an impatient perfectionist, in order to save my own sanity and have time to pee or brush my teeth. So when you come to my house and three out of four lightbulbs are burnt out in one fixture, and the garbage is overflowing.... please don't think that I don't notice these things. Please just cut me some slack and realize that I am pretending that they have already been taken care of. Remember that I am just trying to prioritize what I need to accomplish and that I am waiting for my husband to do what I have asked him to do.

I make these decisions all the time. Which is why tonight after putting the kids asleep, I went outside to bring in the wicker chair that I asked him to take care of before he left, and then I took the new white Adirondack chairs to the front yard like I also wanted. And then I considered assembling the pedal tractor and wagon that I also asked him to assemble, because I was excited and wanted to see it.... but I decided that I needed to do laundry instead. And it's why I waited for three days to get the sandbox assembled and filled with sand, after waiting a couple of months to actually buy it after we picked it out. It's why I haven't folded his jeans and why I won't unload the dishwasher. It's why instead of putting away Evan's socks and underwear I stack them on his side of the bed 1 foot from the dresser drawers and also why I ignore the things that he piles on the backs of the couch and loveseat instead of picking them all up and putting them away like I am DYING to do.

Decisions Decisions. And so, in order to keep my sanity intact, I let the house be messy and spend more time with my kids and more time doing things like blogging and uploading pictures or flipping through a magazine or even scrapbooking. Because if I go crazy, everyone's life is gonna suck around here. They just don't know that yet.

Bumper sticker in front of me says "If you're gonna ride my ass, at least pull my hair." LOL.