This week was good but a bit stressful. Friday was a deadline for a big project we have been working on. Also my manager starts to micro manage a bit when she gets stressed, which doesn't make it better for me.
Also friday night my work laptop decided to die on me. Well not completely. The switch that tells it that it is open seems to have died. That means I can use it at work with an external monitor, but not at home. I should hopefully be able to get it fixed this week, but until then we will be a one computer family. This is especially difficult as her computer is older and cannot handle the online high definition video. We may have to watch Lost in standard definition, and possibly not all that smooth. Also our TV died a few months ago so we cannot even go back to that. Oh well we should be ok.
Also my phone just got an update ao now it supports video. So just because here is a video of Susan and Alice.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Reminder
Just 4 more days to get 60% off of your order at diapers.com. Ends February 28th. Details here.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Bobby's Sunday Summary
This week has felt somewhat typical, but a little busy and stressed. I have been catching up from the week I spent in California, and also trying to finish some things up for a due date coming next Friday. Yesterday I got to go to the temple with a new member and help the youth do baptisms for the dead. I hadn't ever gotten that opportunity before. Friday night the ward had a "Game Show Night" It was a lot of fun, and I won a $1.98 box of Puffs with Lotion, by guessing a price of 1.91, I bid one cent over the previous person, and got booed for it, but I still won.
When it's documented...
...it's officially done. Here are a few more projects I've been working on during my intensely hermit-y, creative phase over the last month and a half:
Here's a series of magnetic "file folder games" that were supposed to be a surprise birthday present for Alice. I couldn't wait that long :( Now I have to come up with something ELSE to give her for her birthday. Most of them are church-themed because they come from a book designed for little kids in Sacrament meeting. It took a long time to color, cut out, laminate, cut out again, and arrange into folders. Some are advanced enough that she won't get them until she's reading. Others are already too simple to maintain her interest. Oh well, there's always the next kid :)
The following is another hopeful birthday present for the Babe. She hasn't seen it yet. I was looking for a nap mat or something similar so Alice would always have a little place to sleep on the floor here or while away. Our crib mattress used to serve that purpose, but now that's going to Zurg. I found (and drastically modified) this nap mat tutorial. I made a mattress out of 4 super-flat pillows I had lying around the house, then repurposed a snazzy shower curtain (from Goodwill) and an extra fleece throw into a washable mattress cover and attached blanket. The cover opens at the bottom with velcro, and there are two ties at the top for rolling it up into a more portable form.
Here's a series of magnetic "file folder games" that were supposed to be a surprise birthday present for Alice. I couldn't wait that long :( Now I have to come up with something ELSE to give her for her birthday. Most of them are church-themed because they come from a book designed for little kids in Sacrament meeting. It took a long time to color, cut out, laminate, cut out again, and arrange into folders. Some are advanced enough that she won't get them until she's reading. Others are already too simple to maintain her interest. Oh well, there's always the next kid :)
The following is another hopeful birthday present for the Babe. She hasn't seen it yet. I was looking for a nap mat or something similar so Alice would always have a little place to sleep on the floor here or while away. Our crib mattress used to serve that purpose, but now that's going to Zurg. I found (and drastically modified) this nap mat tutorial. I made a mattress out of 4 super-flat pillows I had lying around the house, then repurposed a snazzy shower curtain (from Goodwill) and an extra fleece throw into a washable mattress cover and attached blanket. The cover opens at the bottom with velcro, and there are two ties at the top for rolling it up into a more portable form.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Half Price Diapers and Accessories
For a limited time, you can get a great deal at diapers.com:
Register as a new customer of diapers.com and order at least $49 of merchandise (must include at least one cloth or 'sposie diaper purchase), enter the code BOBNSUE for $10 off right away. Then use this offer to get another $14.97 rebate by mail (follow the directions at the bottom for cash instead of a magazine subscription). If you order by February 28th using my special BOBNSUE code, then I get a kickback from diapers.com that I'll happily split with you (an extra $5 for you!).
Here's the math:
Order $50 of merchandise (including at least one diaper purchase) BEFORE February 28th:
$50 - $10 code - $14.97 rebate - $5 kickback + free shipping = $20.03...that's 60% off!
Order $50 of merchandise (including at least one diaper) AFTER February 28th:
$50 - $10 - $14.97 + free shipping = $25.03...that's still 50% off!
Limit: one new registration per household (bummer!). If you don't need diapers personally, they always make nice baby shower gifts :)
If you use my code, I don't know yet if diapers.com will furnish me with any of your contact information. You may need to let me know about it another way so I can get you your $5. Thanks!
Register as a new customer of diapers.com and order at least $49 of merchandise (must include at least one cloth or 'sposie diaper purchase), enter the code BOBNSUE for $10 off right away. Then use this offer to get another $14.97 rebate by mail (follow the directions at the bottom for cash instead of a magazine subscription). If you order by February 28th using my special BOBNSUE code, then I get a kickback from diapers.com that I'll happily split with you (an extra $5 for you!).
Here's the math:
Order $50 of merchandise (including at least one diaper purchase) BEFORE February 28th:
$50 - $10 code - $14.97 rebate - $5 kickback + free shipping = $20.03...that's 60% off!
Order $50 of merchandise (including at least one diaper) AFTER February 28th:
$50 - $10 - $14.97 + free shipping = $25.03...that's still 50% off!
Limit: one new registration per household (bummer!). If you don't need diapers personally, they always make nice baby shower gifts :)
If you use my code, I don't know yet if diapers.com will furnish me with any of your contact information. You may need to let me know about it another way so I can get you your $5. Thanks!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Creative Kick
I've been feeling "projecty" lately. Alice has noticed. She's in the middle of every project and coming up with her own, too.
Bobby actually did this project with Alice...rice krispy treats for Family Home Evening:
This is Alice's own "project" that she came up with using a little Scotch tape, some toilet paper, a scratch paper drawing, and a long scrap of fabric. She says it's for us to remember things. And it's a "funny thing."
Making a set of casual cloth napkins for a friend. One layer of 100% cotton fabric, solid dark green, edges serged in black thread. The four napkins on top are folded in fourths:
Bobby actually did this project with Alice...rice krispy treats for Family Home Evening:
This is Alice's own "project" that she came up with using a little Scotch tape, some toilet paper, a scratch paper drawing, and a long scrap of fabric. She says it's for us to remember things. And it's a "funny thing."
I modified this tutorial to create a wacky series of reusable sandwich and snack bags out of fabric remnants and some fused plastic grocery bags (or heavy plastic bags from my wheat storage). Therefore stylin' on the outside and water resistant on the inside. I have a whole bunch of the Obama print and Bobby won't take them to work ;) Anyone else want one?:
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Results of Our Baking
Bobby's Sunday Summary
This week was quite the week. I flew out Monday morning to California again. The week was a fairly typical week, of lots and lots of meeting in the day, and hanging out at night. This type I went with a new member of my team and so we went out to do some things differently then I usually do. The most significant of these was one night we didn't have any plans so we just decided to drive into San Francisco on a whim. We went to Fisherman's Wharf for dinner. We ate at a place that makes sourdough bread. They made al kinds of animal shapes out of the bread.
Alice was so inspired by the pictures of the bread that she decided that we should make some ourselves. Susan was already planning to make bread anyways. Once I have pictures of how they turned out I will add another post.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Alice and Mister Rogers
We've been listening to Mister Rogers a lot this week. He made a music CD called "You Are Special" that I bought for Alice a couple years ago and now it's the music she requests for bedtime. I catch snippets of it as she plays..."It's you I like. It's not the way your do yours hair but it's you I like"..."Won't you be my neighbor?"
Mister Rogers talks about feelings. A lot. He asks questions and sings about things that seem to resonate with Alice. We talk about our feelings a lot more since Mister Rogers came to play. She tells us when something makes her sad or mad or happy. Her imaginary play during quiet time often centers around her babies' emotions...frustration, fear, sadness, and anger are the loud ones I can hear from the living room. Her babies lose it and she suddenly becomes the calm voice of reason explaining things to them, helping them share, etc. I don't know how often she explores the more pleasant emotions like happiness or accomplishment, but they're not very loud if she does.
She's listened to Mister Rogers' telling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears over and over and over again and she still has questions about it every time. She wants to listen to it with me before I say "good night." In Mister Rogers' story, Goldilocks thinks the bears' home is a forest playhouse. She means no mischief, no disobedience, and certainly no disrespect to the family actually living there. When she awakes to a family of bears, she's truly surprised and scared out of her mind. Tonight, after Goldilocks runs home, Alice asks,"What hers mom say?"
I don't think I've considered that question before. Here's what we decide:
She helps Goldilocks understand her mistake and together they think of a way to make it up to the bear family. The next day, Goldilocks takes a lunch basket to the bears' house and apologizes. She and the bear family become friends.
Alice grins. She likes how that ends. A warm and fuzzy end to a warm and fuzzy feeling-laden Mister Rogers experience.
Mister Rogers talks about feelings. A lot. He asks questions and sings about things that seem to resonate with Alice. We talk about our feelings a lot more since Mister Rogers came to play. She tells us when something makes her sad or mad or happy. Her imaginary play during quiet time often centers around her babies' emotions...frustration, fear, sadness, and anger are the loud ones I can hear from the living room. Her babies lose it and she suddenly becomes the calm voice of reason explaining things to them, helping them share, etc. I don't know how often she explores the more pleasant emotions like happiness or accomplishment, but they're not very loud if she does.
She's listened to Mister Rogers' telling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears over and over and over again and she still has questions about it every time. She wants to listen to it with me before I say "good night." In Mister Rogers' story, Goldilocks thinks the bears' home is a forest playhouse. She means no mischief, no disobedience, and certainly no disrespect to the family actually living there. When she awakes to a family of bears, she's truly surprised and scared out of her mind. Tonight, after Goldilocks runs home, Alice asks,"What hers mom say?"
I don't think I've considered that question before. Here's what we decide:
She helps Goldilocks understand her mistake and together they think of a way to make it up to the bear family. The next day, Goldilocks takes a lunch basket to the bears' house and apologizes. She and the bear family become friends.
Alice grins. She likes how that ends. A warm and fuzzy end to a warm and fuzzy feeling-laden Mister Rogers experience.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Simple Organic Launch Giveaway
I don't normally enter giveaways, and I never thought I would want to enter a blog giveaway by telling other people about it on my/our blog, but this giveaway tempts me terribly. If you're curious about green choices, organic products, and/or simple living, this new blog might be worth checking out. It's called Simple Organic and it's a recent spin off of a new favorite blog of mine: Simple Mom.
Don't enter the giveaway. I'll hunt you down ;)
Don't enter the giveaway. I'll hunt you down ;)
Metal Tigers, Earth Goats, and Golden Fire Pigs
This Sunday, February 14th, is Valentine's Day AND the first day of the Chinese New Year. We are welcoming in the year of the tiger, but not just any tiger. It's the year of the metal tiger. Baby Zurg's year. Children born in a tiger year are thought to have the following characteristics (quoted from chinesezodiac.com):
Occupying the 3rd position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Tiger symbolizes such character traits as bravery, competitiveness and unpredictability. Tigers love to be challenged and will accept any challenge if it means protecting a loved one or protecting their honor. They don’t worry about the outcome because they know they’ll always land on their feet. Don’t let their calm appearance fool you though; Tigers will pounce when they feel it’s necessary.
The metal element adds another dimension:
Assertive, competitive and sharp, once Metal Tigers set their sights on their goals there’s no stopping them. They’ll always do what’s necessary to remain at the center of attention. Metal Tigers tend to jump to conclusions; a behavior they need to work at improving.
I certainly don't believe that every single person born this year will be brave, competitive, unpredictable, and impulsively tenacious. Still, I do believe that we are each born with some personality already in place. The unfortunate and completely pointless turmoil in my brain is that the metal tiger personality is THE personality that I have feared the most to mother. It's the complete opposite of my patient, mellow, plan-focused, and detail-oriented self who appreciates predictability and absolutely NO limelight whatsoever.
By the way, Bobby and I are both Earth Goats, and it describes me quite well. I wrote the above description of myself before looking up the definition below:
Occupying the 8th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Goat (or Sheep) symbolizes such character traits as creativity, intelligence, dependability, and calmness. Comfortable being alone to ponder the workings of their inner minds, Goats enjoy being part of a group, but prefer the sidelines rather than the center. Their nurturing personality makes Goats excellent care-givers. They’re quite and reserved because they spend much time absorbed in their thoughts.
Alice was born in the year of the Fire Pig but it was the 10th Fire Pig year in a 600 year cycle, so she was a Golden Fire Pig, which is supposedly very, very, lucky and all that. There was a bit of a baby boom in a few Asian cultures in 2007. Of course I wanted to hear this prediction about my sweet little baby girl:
Occupying the 3rd position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Tiger symbolizes such character traits as bravery, competitiveness and unpredictability. Tigers love to be challenged and will accept any challenge if it means protecting a loved one or protecting their honor. They don’t worry about the outcome because they know they’ll always land on their feet. Don’t let their calm appearance fool you though; Tigers will pounce when they feel it’s necessary.
The metal element adds another dimension:
Assertive, competitive and sharp, once Metal Tigers set their sights on their goals there’s no stopping them. They’ll always do what’s necessary to remain at the center of attention. Metal Tigers tend to jump to conclusions; a behavior they need to work at improving.
I certainly don't believe that every single person born this year will be brave, competitive, unpredictable, and impulsively tenacious. Still, I do believe that we are each born with some personality already in place. The unfortunate and completely pointless turmoil in my brain is that the metal tiger personality is THE personality that I have feared the most to mother. It's the complete opposite of my patient, mellow, plan-focused, and detail-oriented self who appreciates predictability and absolutely NO limelight whatsoever.
By the way, Bobby and I are both Earth Goats, and it describes me quite well. I wrote the above description of myself before looking up the definition below:
Occupying the 8th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Goat (or Sheep) symbolizes such character traits as creativity, intelligence, dependability, and calmness. Comfortable being alone to ponder the workings of their inner minds, Goats enjoy being part of a group, but prefer the sidelines rather than the center. Their nurturing personality makes Goats excellent care-givers. They’re quite and reserved because they spend much time absorbed in their thoughts.
Home and alone is where Goats feel most comfortable. There they can express themselves artistically, whether it’s by painting, cooking or participating in whatever artistic endeavors they enjoy. Goats prefer the couch because there they can relax and explore their minds. They don’t need elaborate furnishings; only items reflecting their desire for art.
Earth Goats are conservative, independent and practical, but not very confident in themselves. Most important in life is the family and they truly enjoy all that life has to offer.
Alice was born in the year of the Fire Pig but it was the 10th Fire Pig year in a 600 year cycle, so she was a Golden Fire Pig, which is supposedly very, very, lucky and all that. There was a bit of a baby boom in a few Asian cultures in 2007. Of course I wanted to hear this prediction about my sweet little baby girl:
Occupying the last position in the Chinese Zodiac, the 12th, the Pig symbolizes such character traits as diligence, compassion, and generosity. Pigs enjoy life and because they are entertaining, others enjoy their company. Pigs are giving souls and reap much enjoyment when they’re helping others, but sometimes they give too much. Honesty is what Pigs give and it’s what they expect to receive in return.
Pigs seek peace and will do what is necessary to maintain it. This trait, while admirable, sometimes makes it easy for others to take advantage of Pigs. Pigs are always doing for others, helping anyway they can, but rarely will they ask others for help. This can overwhelm and stress them, but Pigs don’t mind.
So, while I put absolutely no stock in the Chinese Zodiac, there are things I WANT to believe about it because they happen to fit things I like about myself and other people. Metal tigers happen to be my greatest fear and I will prepare for it all the same while I keep hoping that it won't apply in this case.
See? Unfortunate AND completely pointless.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Bobby's Sunday Summary
Well, This week was a fairly normal week. I am not going to do what I did last week, because a bit more happened this week then that. Alice has been going through a bit of a whiney phase. She would start out whining when she didn't get her way and then that would turn into a bit of a tantrum and cry. This happened especially around bed time. We realized that we were not following through as well on punishment for those situations as we should have been. So it only took one time of putting her into her bed, to not have story reading, etc. and the bedtime problems have cleared up significantly.
Also this week Alice was wearing a "silly hat", this was a pair of pants that she put on her head. We were in the kitchen and she pulled it down over her eyes, "to keep the sun out of them" She wanted to show mommy, but in her rush to do so she ran, literally, into the refrigerator door. I was making my lunch at the time so I had the door open and was crouched down trying to get an apple out. I now have a nice circular cut on my elbow from it, I think it came from the mayonnaise jar, but I don't know for sure. Insensitive Susan couldn't stop laughing at her poor daughter's predicament, and yes I thought it was funny too.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Reality
Alice and I are walking to the parking garage after our visit with the midwife today and we pass an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair a little behind a glass door. He appears to be waiting for his ride. He doesn't look well. Alice stops, points, and asks, "Is he real or pretend?" I'm taken by surprise and mutter something like, "He's real, let's wave hello." She doesn't wave. She just stares. He's motionless. She asks again, "Mommy, is he real or pretend?" I repeat my answer, but now other people start noticing her question. I start to feel watched. I don't know if I should change my answer and whisk her away or talk her through this new situation. Before I can decide anything, I find myself walking up to her and taking her hand, "He's real, Alice, let's wave hello." I wave and lead her to the parking garage.
The situation still sticks in my brain and I can't figure out why.
The situation still sticks in my brain and I can't figure out why.
Baby Update
32 weeks and all is well. They say Zurg's movement will lessen as it gets tighter in there, but I'm just concerned that the extra squeeze will lead to him kicking his way out sooner than Alice kicked her way out at 37 weeks. Ray, the only male midwife in our group, was the one who saw me today. I'm glad I got this chance to meet with him again because my first two impressions of the man were less than stellar. He's actually a funny and warm kinda guy. Go figure.
Ray pulled out the mini sono machine this visit. There was some question as to whether the rock-hard lump under my ribs was Zurg's head or bottom. It's a bottom. He's head down and prepping for action. FYI, Ray predicts this baby will be "on the small side" like Alice was (6lbs 15oz).
It was an unpredictable delight to steal another "peek" at Zurg in the womb. Real baby. Really there. Really kicking and tickling and twisting and stretching. Now that I know he's head down, I can tell that this kind of tickle is his hand by his head and this other kind of stretch is him flexing his knee. The movement imagery helps me know and love him before he even has a decent name :)
We're putting the crib in Alice's room this week. Sure, sure, it's early but I need to see how it fits before I decide if I really want it there. I think we'll put the crib in her room, then the changing table and snuggle/nursing chair in the office. Let's see how that works out. The natural consequence for that arrangement is that many more toys, books, and art supplies will be stored in the living room. Don't know how I feel about that. She plays with them there anyway...
Ray pulled out the mini sono machine this visit. There was some question as to whether the rock-hard lump under my ribs was Zurg's head or bottom. It's a bottom. He's head down and prepping for action. FYI, Ray predicts this baby will be "on the small side" like Alice was (6lbs 15oz).
It was an unpredictable delight to steal another "peek" at Zurg in the womb. Real baby. Really there. Really kicking and tickling and twisting and stretching. Now that I know he's head down, I can tell that this kind of tickle is his hand by his head and this other kind of stretch is him flexing his knee. The movement imagery helps me know and love him before he even has a decent name :)
We're putting the crib in Alice's room this week. Sure, sure, it's early but I need to see how it fits before I decide if I really want it there. I think we'll put the crib in her room, then the changing table and snuggle/nursing chair in the office. Let's see how that works out. The natural consequence for that arrangement is that many more toys, books, and art supplies will be stored in the living room. Don't know how I feel about that. She plays with them there anyway...
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