Hey all,
i've started a new blog at .....
http://foodepiphany.wordpress.com/
come visit me!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Food: Part II
Okay, so back to mid-December. After reading the pro-vegan "Skinny Bitch" I thought to myself, I can commit to this for a minimum of four months right? My first hurdle was to give us coffee. I admit I had been thinking of doing that for a least a month prior anyway. I never drank a lot of coffee anyway, I mostly had half a cup which would be reheated over and over until late morning when I would finally dump it down the drain. But just giving up that small amount gave me a dull throbbing headache for nearly three days. Once I realized that even that small amount of coffee was affecting my body so strongly, I realized that a lot of the food I was eating was in fact toxic.
I optimistically gave up meat, all meat, even chicken. And then not so optimistically, dairy, which was pretty hard for me. Actually, for most people giving up dairy is hard. I tried some of the replacement products that the book recommended, but it was disgusting. Of course, I made Alec try it too, and he said, "This may be the most disgusting thing I've eaten in years." So, I wasn't able to completely rid myself of dairy, but I cut way way back. No more huge glasses of milk or snacking on slices of cheese. Rather than replace what I had been eating with soy products that had been processed to resemble that food, I wanted to really change what I ate and cooked. So the vegetables were in. Vegetables have never been popular with me. In fact, I think there were actual YEARS of my life when I barely ate any. I never bought them (they only rotted in the bottom of my fridge). When I was pregnant with Nora was the first time in my adult life I remember eating veggies regularly (thanks Alec!). Once I decided to eat more veggies, I was on the search for fresh local, organic produce. I also wanted to be forced to try new vegetables that were outside my usual (limited) range. This led me to Fairview Gardens and their fantastic CSA program.
As I started cooking vegetables instead of meat-centered meals I was completely impressed by how Good the food tasted. I am now convinced that cooking meat is difficult (that is why restaurants are so much better at it than home cooks, ie Me). Whenever I cooked meat it was so all-consuming that I rarely made a side dish and it was a miracle if it was ready at the same time as the meat. Consequently, we often had a meat-only dinner and that meat was never really cooked well. Once my focus shifted to veggies, I'd make three or four different kinds and they were amazingly good. Even Alec agreed, though he mourned the loss of his kielbasa and tri-tip. I started making more and more complex vegetarian meals, lasagnes and galletes. The cooking took longer and without Alec keeping the kids busy I could not have done it. But, we all started feeling healthier and I started to lose a lot of weight.
I optimistically gave up meat, all meat, even chicken. And then not so optimistically, dairy, which was pretty hard for me. Actually, for most people giving up dairy is hard. I tried some of the replacement products that the book recommended, but it was disgusting. Of course, I made Alec try it too, and he said, "This may be the most disgusting thing I've eaten in years." So, I wasn't able to completely rid myself of dairy, but I cut way way back. No more huge glasses of milk or snacking on slices of cheese. Rather than replace what I had been eating with soy products that had been processed to resemble that food, I wanted to really change what I ate and cooked. So the vegetables were in. Vegetables have never been popular with me. In fact, I think there were actual YEARS of my life when I barely ate any. I never bought them (they only rotted in the bottom of my fridge). When I was pregnant with Nora was the first time in my adult life I remember eating veggies regularly (thanks Alec!). Once I decided to eat more veggies, I was on the search for fresh local, organic produce. I also wanted to be forced to try new vegetables that were outside my usual (limited) range. This led me to Fairview Gardens and their fantastic CSA program.
As I started cooking vegetables instead of meat-centered meals I was completely impressed by how Good the food tasted. I am now convinced that cooking meat is difficult (that is why restaurants are so much better at it than home cooks, ie Me). Whenever I cooked meat it was so all-consuming that I rarely made a side dish and it was a miracle if it was ready at the same time as the meat. Consequently, we often had a meat-only dinner and that meat was never really cooked well. Once my focus shifted to veggies, I'd make three or four different kinds and they were amazingly good. Even Alec agreed, though he mourned the loss of his kielbasa and tri-tip. I started making more and more complex vegetarian meals, lasagnes and galletes. The cooking took longer and without Alec keeping the kids busy I could not have done it. But, we all started feeling healthier and I started to lose a lot of weight.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Food, part I
I've always been pretty excited about food, especially the eating of it. Pregnancy is famous for allowing a woman to indulge food in a guilt-free, unselfconscious way. I had my fair share of McDonald's chicken sandwiches with Nora. But with Benjamin it was all about the chicken nuggets from Wendys, chocolate malts, and Mountain Dews. But, I've never been what you would call a confident cook. Recently, my relationship with food has undergone a major change.
It all started in December, on a scale at the YMCA. As the indicator sifted all the way to the right and stopped, my heart began to beat just a little faster. Slyly, looking to see if anyone was looking I gently urged the large bottom pointer to the "150" marker and slid the smaller indicator all the way back to the left. Carefully, I began urging the metal slowly to the right, more and more, and more until it began to balance revealing a number that made me break out into a cold sweat: 158. Huh. How did this happen. My face was red as I quickly hopped off the scale and swatted the indicator aside to erase the evidence of my...my... my actual weight. What I saw that day awakened in me a strong desire...to get thin and stay thin.
Later that day or maybe it was even later that week I strolled into Borders to buy some Christmas presents and spied a book called "Skinny Bitch". I began to flip through it and read a few portions. The abundant use of profanity immediately appealed to me, but more than that it made me think about my assumptions about food and health, as in "I can't give up milk. Can I?" I quickly added it to my stash and headed home. This book, while I don't agree with everything it espouses awakened me. Things I knew, deep down, were elucidated and I decided to completely change what I ate for four months, just to see.
It all started in December, on a scale at the YMCA. As the indicator sifted all the way to the right and stopped, my heart began to beat just a little faster. Slyly, looking to see if anyone was looking I gently urged the large bottom pointer to the "150" marker and slid the smaller indicator all the way back to the left. Carefully, I began urging the metal slowly to the right, more and more, and more until it began to balance revealing a number that made me break out into a cold sweat: 158. Huh. How did this happen. My face was red as I quickly hopped off the scale and swatted the indicator aside to erase the evidence of my...my... my actual weight. What I saw that day awakened in me a strong desire...to get thin and stay thin.
Later that day or maybe it was even later that week I strolled into Borders to buy some Christmas presents and spied a book called "Skinny Bitch". I began to flip through it and read a few portions. The abundant use of profanity immediately appealed to me, but more than that it made me think about my assumptions about food and health, as in "I can't give up milk. Can I?" I quickly added it to my stash and headed home. This book, while I don't agree with everything it espouses awakened me. Things I knew, deep down, were elucidated and I decided to completely change what I ate for four months, just to see.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Priorities
Last week we actually paid someone to do some work around our house. We have actually not done this before, ever, and I think I may become addicted. When the house was being built, both Alec and I spent countless hours DIYing all over the place. I painted till I had tendonitis and Alec is still finishing up the baseboards and woodwork here and there. So, it was with unprecedented pleasure that I hired out a job involving home improvement. One day about a month ago I decided to put up wallpaper in my office. I had been thinking about wallpaper for awhile and then I saw some great patterns over at design public. So, after thinking about how hard it would be to do ourselves (and the roughly two hours per weekend day we have child-free) got two estimates. Then I simply ordered the paper (found it cheaper than design public) and hired someone to do the job. I left for work on Thursday and by the time I got home, Viola! the room looked fabulous. I love to sit in this room and just look at the wallpaper, love it, love it, love it!
Now I want more! We've already done a great flying bird installation from Blik (I'll post photos later). So, I'm thinking either the laundry room needs a little TLC, we buy a couple of accent chairs for the living room, or buy some bedside sconces for our bedroom. I think I have already spent our stimulus check about four times over. And I was actually planning on just saving it!
I want to write a separate entry for each of the things that has been keeping me busy over the last several months but here's a preview: Food (as in what I eat and what my family eats), Weight loss (obviously connected to the first), paying off debt, living with less, and reading more. Oh yeah, and raising two willful, beautiful children.
Now I want more! We've already done a great flying bird installation from Blik (I'll post photos later). So, I'm thinking either the laundry room needs a little TLC, we buy a couple of accent chairs for the living room, or buy some bedside sconces for our bedroom. I think I have already spent our stimulus check about four times over. And I was actually planning on just saving it!
I want to write a separate entry for each of the things that has been keeping me busy over the last several months but here's a preview: Food (as in what I eat and what my family eats), Weight loss (obviously connected to the first), paying off debt, living with less, and reading more. Oh yeah, and raising two willful, beautiful children.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Back?
So, I thought I was all through with blogging. But maybe it was just a really long break. I was reading some of my really old posts this weekend and I was quite amused and had forgotten a lot of the little things that went on. So, I want to have that kind of record of my life, but I also want to write entertaining entries, which can be hard when your life is monotony incarnate. How can I possibly be interesting when I think a good weekend consists of finishing four loads of laundry and getting at least one nap in? I mean really who am I? I guess for a while there I had to completely surrender to motherhood in all it's isolating grandness. But now that Benjamin is getting older I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Early childhood is a labor-intensive time in a parent's life and some days all you can do is get the dishes put away and watch an episode of the Daily Show and call it a day.
So, I can't make any promises, but I will try to keep up the blogging as long as you don't mind the occasional (usual) parenting crap, because I am knee-deep folks, knee-deep!
So, I can't make any promises, but I will try to keep up the blogging as long as you don't mind the occasional (usual) parenting crap, because I am knee-deep folks, knee-deep!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Early in the Morning
I am up before anyone in the house right now. I should really wake up Alec before he is late for work, but to be awake and doing something before anyone is stirring is quie addicting. I heard some rustling in the brush by the ravine at around 6:30. Something heavy walking slowly and so bleary-eyed I peered through the window to try and see what it was. I already knew it was a coyote, but I wanted to see it. Then it walked up from the ravine and into our yard, right past the table and chairs as if it was the family dog. Knowing that one of my kitties was still outside I darted upstairs and looked out the back door fully expecting to be about three feet from the coyote, but it was nowhere. I quickly ran uot to the deck and scooped up Ruby, who was lying very still on the bench by the door, and ran back inside.
Nora's door just oppened: time to start another day!
Nora's door just oppened: time to start another day!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Up and sputtering
So, I am off and not quite running.
I have made a quickie web presence at www.babyjanedesign.com and am still focusing on finishing and photographing miss nora's room and soon will turn my attention to sir benjamin. I also had a friend call me today to ask if I would help her do an invitation to her son's birthday....I love doing invites and parties so I am super excited. Perhaps I should add this to my list of services....
I have made a quickie web presence at www.babyjanedesign.com and am still focusing on finishing and photographing miss nora's room and soon will turn my attention to sir benjamin. I also had a friend call me today to ask if I would help her do an invitation to her son's birthday....I love doing invites and parties so I am super excited. Perhaps I should add this to my list of services....
Monday, September 03, 2007
Heat Wave
It has been HOT here all weekend. We are fortunate that our house is built into a hillside and that the downstairs (where we sleep) is almost contantly comfortably cool and because it is CA it always cools down at night. But it has still been too hot out to do much of anything. We went to Sears today to bask in the A/C and they were conserving energy so they had the A/C turned down(up?) and half the lights off. It felt pretty strange, like shopping after a cataclysmic disaster. Yesterday we filled up the kiddie pool and splashed around for a few minutes. I really, really wish we had a real pool!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Consult Me
So, I have decided to take one step forward in my dream of being paid to shop. I am hoping to start consulting on and decorating nurserys and children's rooms! I have definately thought about doing this before now, but I guess I just assumed that people loved to decorate a nursery and that it would not be a terribly good business plan. But after speaking with some friends and moms, I have come to realize that they don't actually relish the idea of scouring the web for that perfect piece of furniture or accessory that will set their kid's room apart. And we all like to bounce ideas off someone. I am hoping start working on my portfolio ASAP, starting with finishing Nora's room and getting it photographed. Then finishing Bubba's (temporary) room and photographing it and then moving him into Nora's room (redoing it in the process) and photographing it! I am already helping my friend redo her daughter's room 2000 miles away and I hope to help some in-town friends and perhaps even a pregnant friend too! Once I have a portfolio I would hope to develop a business plan and start getting paid to do this. Eventually, I would like to have a retail store that would house all of the fabulous things I find and have a space in back to meet with clients. I am inspired by so many placed that I have visited and, of course, by buying stuff for my own kids. I hope that I can keep the excitement and momentum up for this!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Siblings
There are days, not today mind you, when I wonder at the wisdom of having two children. I never wanted an only child, but I think that my personal patience quota is a little shaky when it comes to dealing with two kids. There is rarely any down time, you basically just switch off between the two. It is harder now because Nora has been home from school for the last week and is home this week as well. But honestly, I didn't realize how constant having two is. I thought one was hard, but when she was sleeping or occupied I could at least take a shower or do something, but now I have to worry about not only what Nora or Benjamin might do but what Nora AND Benjamin might do. They are pretty good so far but as Benjamin gets fiesty about his things I see trouble brewing! Fortunately they really do love each other too, as evidenced in this pic!
Friday, August 10, 2007
nora's room
My friend asked to see pictures of Nora's room. I haven't taken any in a long time. I guess because I just keep thinking I'll wait until it is finished. But, I should know by now that things are never really "done" I am always changing things around. A few weeks ago we made a big push to get her room a little more finshed. Alec put up the base boards and built the little bench under the window. I took advantage of the penny sale at Aaron Brothers to buy some frames for pictures that were just laying around. And then I went to IKEA solo and bought a lot of veneered furniture...a lot. I like the way it looks in her room and also that it is so cheap that if something happens to it, oh well. We had visions of moving Benjamin into Nora's room about three months ago, but he still isn't sleeping through the night (I won't go into this right now). But we hope to move him in in the next couple of weeks so that I can have my office back and they can get used to each other.
Anyway, I love Nora's room and sort of wish it had been mine when I was little. Enoy the pictures, I'm open to ideas...
Anyway, I love Nora's room and sort of wish it had been mine when I was little. Enoy the pictures, I'm open to ideas...
Thursday, July 26, 2007
California is like a bowl of cereal...
...full of nuts, fruits, and flakes. Someone told me that a dozen years ago when I moved to California and over the years I have seen that it is true to the extent that any gross generalization is true. I don't really mind the nuts and I'm not sure who the fruits are but it is the flakes that have been bothering me lately. People in California are flaky, I've know that for a very long time and most of time I just keep on rolling. To East coast folks, Californians are fake, too nice, and they just don't suffer enough in that yankee way. To Midwesterners, Californians are Weird, they eat strange things, live in a climate that is nice but boring, and spend waay too much for houses. True enough, but what really gets me is that everyone is so fucking unreliable! It has worked to my advantage in the past: just showing up for work means you are in the top 10% of employees. People here don't even quit a job, they just stop SHOWING UP to work and eventually the employer mails them their last check. So if just showing up to work is half the battle, if you actually do your work you are employee of the month.
Even outside of the work relationship reliability is optional. We've been selling some things on craigslist and so far more than four people have NOT SHOWN UP after telling us they want the item and gotten directions to our house And told us when they will be there. Seriously, what the hell? This is annoying but I don't take it personally. If you don't want to buy my crap, I understand, no biggie.
But, when it comes to forming new friendships or maintaining fledgling ones, unrealiability is "totally uncool". I do take it personally when I have people cancel last minute, not follow through, or never call. I can't help it I'm sensitive. So, what to do? Well I have joined a new group of moms, they meet every week and do things both with kids and without, sounds great. First meet up since I joined is tomorrow. Two yeses, four maybees, and six nos. So, today when I go to RSVP I find that one of the organizers has posed the following question: "If the maybe's want to update, maybe you can still "meet-up" if Lily and I aren't there???" Yep that's the organizer and the co-organizer. Now there are no yeses and only four maybes (including mine). What am I supposed to take from this?
Even outside of the work relationship reliability is optional. We've been selling some things on craigslist and so far more than four people have NOT SHOWN UP after telling us they want the item and gotten directions to our house And told us when they will be there. Seriously, what the hell? This is annoying but I don't take it personally. If you don't want to buy my crap, I understand, no biggie.
But, when it comes to forming new friendships or maintaining fledgling ones, unrealiability is "totally uncool". I do take it personally when I have people cancel last minute, not follow through, or never call. I can't help it I'm sensitive. So, what to do? Well I have joined a new group of moms, they meet every week and do things both with kids and without, sounds great. First meet up since I joined is tomorrow. Two yeses, four maybees, and six nos. So, today when I go to RSVP I find that one of the organizers has posed the following question: "If the maybe's want to update, maybe you can still "meet-up" if Lily and I aren't there???" Yep that's the organizer and the co-organizer. Now there are no yeses and only four maybes (including mine). What am I supposed to take from this?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Monday, June 04, 2007
Busy, Busy, Busy
The month of May absolutely flew by and June is threatening to do the same.
So, here are the highlights:
Went to Virginia for a business trip and got to see Alison!
Went to San Diego for three days, two of which were spent at SeaWorld.
Went to Big Sur for my neice's 14th birthday.
Made a nice little BBQ area for the summer.
Beginning to research a picturebook/illustration segment for the UCSB summer class on Children's Literature (which I am actually getting paid to do).
Working from home.
Trying to get Benjamin to sleep through the night.
Cooking from my new fabulous "America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook" and
going to bed on average at 8:45.
So, here are the highlights:
Went to Virginia for a business trip and got to see Alison!
Went to San Diego for three days, two of which were spent at SeaWorld.
Went to Big Sur for my neice's 14th birthday.
Made a nice little BBQ area for the summer.
Beginning to research a picturebook/illustration segment for the UCSB summer class on Children's Literature (which I am actually getting paid to do).
Working from home.
Trying to get Benjamin to sleep through the night.
Cooking from my new fabulous "America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook" and
going to bed on average at 8:45.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Honey Bear
Oh I'm going to miss my little Bubba!
I leave on a business trip on Sunday and return home Wednesday. I am excited to, you know, sleep and be by myself. But I will certainly miss this little face. He really is a mama's boy. LOVE him. and nora too. and alec.
I leave on a business trip on Sunday and return home Wednesday. I am excited to, you know, sleep and be by myself. But I will certainly miss this little face. He really is a mama's boy. LOVE him. and nora too. and alec.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Resigned
Alec is stronger than I am.
I can't let the little bugger cry anymore, it is just too stressful for me. After the Monday cry-a-thon, I realized that Ben had rubbed his little feet raw. He rubs his feet together like a cricket when he is crying and thrashing around. He had used his long toenails to scratch his ankles and feet. Not a good look on an infant. Also, we have fleas. Faye thinks he has flea bites on his foot, but I don't. I have flea bites though. We got the cats on the Advantage stuff so that the entire house won't become infested.
I feel a little sad that I am not strong enough this week to battle it out with a four month old and win, but sleep deprivation will do that to a person. Speaking of which, I am going to go to bed now.
I can't let the little bugger cry anymore, it is just too stressful for me. After the Monday cry-a-thon, I realized that Ben had rubbed his little feet raw. He rubs his feet together like a cricket when he is crying and thrashing around. He had used his long toenails to scratch his ankles and feet. Not a good look on an infant. Also, we have fleas. Faye thinks he has flea bites on his foot, but I don't. I have flea bites though. We got the cats on the Advantage stuff so that the entire house won't become infested.
I feel a little sad that I am not strong enough this week to battle it out with a four month old and win, but sleep deprivation will do that to a person. Speaking of which, I am going to go to bed now.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Cry it out Little Man
Connected to my last post about sleeping here is what is happening in the household this week. Sleep training! Cadet Benjamin is the second in the household to be enlisted in the Cry it Out camp. The philosophy is so simple, yet so hard to implement. Basically, your baby needs to sleep and eat when you say so, based on their natural desires, of course. What you don't do is rock a baby completely to sleep, or drive them around to get them to sleep, or do anything except let them cry them selves to sleep. Once they figure out that they are going to have to cry it out, they learn pretty fast that crying yourself to sleep just isn't worth it. This training usually takes about 3-5 days, but can take up to two weeks. I'm hoping for 5 days. Yesterday, Benjamin cried for the entire afternoon. Starting at 12:00 and lasting (with two breaks) until I made a break for it at 4:00 when Alec came home. I remember doing this with Nora, vaguely. But I don't think she lasted for more than an hour in the crying department. Home boy is racking up an astonishing hour plus.
the ideal schedule
6:3o wake and eat, play until 8:oo or 8:3o
8:30 nap for 1 to 1 1/2 hours
9:30 or 10:00 wake and eat, play until 11:00 or 11:30
repeat until bed time @ 7:00 pm
Day 1
So far today:
6:45 woken up, barely ate, played until 8:30
8:30 napped until 9:45
9:45 barely ate, played and ran errands until 11:00
11:15 napped...until 11:45 uh oh deviation from schedule, what to do. 12:00 started to cry, 12:15 still crying. Must wait until 12:30 to feed him, he's so wound up now he'll never get back to sleep...so I guess crying for another 15 minutes, this sucks.
the ideal schedule
6:3o wake and eat, play until 8:oo or 8:3o
8:30 nap for 1 to 1 1/2 hours
9:30 or 10:00 wake and eat, play until 11:00 or 11:30
repeat until bed time @ 7:00 pm
Day 1
So far today:
6:45 woken up, barely ate, played until 8:30
8:30 napped until 9:45
9:45 barely ate, played and ran errands until 11:00
11:15 napped...until 11:45 uh oh deviation from schedule, what to do. 12:00 started to cry, 12:15 still crying. Must wait until 12:30 to feed him, he's so wound up now he'll never get back to sleep...so I guess crying for another 15 minutes, this sucks.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Sleep
Today was a hard day. I won't go into it because it may make my friends without children, think twice about joining me in the world of parenting and I can't have that.
But, I wanted to post today because I was talking to a friend who said she can tell I have two kids due to my lack of posts. That is absolutely true. Any extra time I have is now solely devoted to sleeping. I was never like this before. I never hit the snooze button on my alarm clock, I mean what is the point of putting off the inevitable? I have to get up either now or in 13 minutes and what will that extra thirteen minutes of sleep really get me. I only wanted to sleep when I knew I could enjoy it. For example at night or late evening. I typically am in bed these days by 9:00. This is a double edged sword because Nora's bed time is 8:00 and if I want any time sans children this is it. But I desire sleep more. More than even tv. More than TV? how did I get here!!! Anyway, this morning I fed Benjamin at 5:36am finished at about 6:00 and returned to bed. Did I mention that Nora came in my room at about 5:00am to inform me that she was ready to go upstairs and have her vitamin and two spoonfuls of peanut butter. Outraged I told her NO, it's dark, I am still sleeping and you need to go back to your room and either get back in bed or play QUIETLY until I say so. When I returned to bed at 6ish she was still playing in her room (though she had come upstairs twice during the feeding) I knew that Alec would leave for work at a little before 7:00 so I was hoping for just an extra few minutes. They aren't quality minutes just minutes of defiance: I choose when I get up out of bed, not a three-year old and certainly not a 3-month old. Those minutes lasted far less than a snooze button.
But, I wanted to post today because I was talking to a friend who said she can tell I have two kids due to my lack of posts. That is absolutely true. Any extra time I have is now solely devoted to sleeping. I was never like this before. I never hit the snooze button on my alarm clock, I mean what is the point of putting off the inevitable? I have to get up either now or in 13 minutes and what will that extra thirteen minutes of sleep really get me. I only wanted to sleep when I knew I could enjoy it. For example at night or late evening. I typically am in bed these days by 9:00. This is a double edged sword because Nora's bed time is 8:00 and if I want any time sans children this is it. But I desire sleep more. More than even tv. More than TV? how did I get here!!! Anyway, this morning I fed Benjamin at 5:36am finished at about 6:00 and returned to bed. Did I mention that Nora came in my room at about 5:00am to inform me that she was ready to go upstairs and have her vitamin and two spoonfuls of peanut butter. Outraged I told her NO, it's dark, I am still sleeping and you need to go back to your room and either get back in bed or play QUIETLY until I say so. When I returned to bed at 6ish she was still playing in her room (though she had come upstairs twice during the feeding) I knew that Alec would leave for work at a little before 7:00 so I was hoping for just an extra few minutes. They aren't quality minutes just minutes of defiance: I choose when I get up out of bed, not a three-year old and certainly not a 3-month old. Those minutes lasted far less than a snooze button.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Moving
My best friend Jessica is moving to Seattle in a few months. We've known for some time that she would be doing this. In fact, I counseled her to move. All of the reasons for her to move are very good ones, the thing is--I'm really going to miss her. Thinking back, I have often advised my friends to move, especially when they are stuck in a rut. I think it is because I really like moving. Finding a new place to live is exciting. I even like packing and unpacking. Call me crazy, but I really should have married somone who's work involved moving. But, I am sure that if I had to move every few years I would soon grow tired of making new friends and setting up house. Especially now with kids, it makes sense to stay put. Essentially, we are not moving in the near future.
As tempting as Portland is with its appeal of homeownership and complete independence. We haven't been appreciating what we have here. Beautiful weather almost year-round, free babysitting just 200 yards away, a beautiful brand new house, and friends. Nora has friends here as to I and Alec. Our work situations couldn't be more ideal. I am working from home, part-time and Alec is about to start an incredible work situation. So, eventhough I am getting the three-year itch to move again, I'm putting down roots.
I'll have to live vicariously through Jessica: hiring a U-Haul, packing, selling stuff, planning it all--except at the end of it all I will just be left behind, missing my buddy.
As tempting as Portland is with its appeal of homeownership and complete independence. We haven't been appreciating what we have here. Beautiful weather almost year-round, free babysitting just 200 yards away, a beautiful brand new house, and friends. Nora has friends here as to I and Alec. Our work situations couldn't be more ideal. I am working from home, part-time and Alec is about to start an incredible work situation. So, eventhough I am getting the three-year itch to move again, I'm putting down roots.
I'll have to live vicariously through Jessica: hiring a U-Haul, packing, selling stuff, planning it all--except at the end of it all I will just be left behind, missing my buddy.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Landmark week in the world of parenting...
Three nights running, Benjamin has slept through the night. What that actually translates into is 12:00-6:00 or Heaven for parents! Life is just so much better when the babies, they sleep.
I have been watching too much Netflix. I am on season 3 of the Sopranos. I don't have a disc tonight and I feel like some part of my family is missing. Plus I have started swearing a lot more...
Work is going well. I am finally able to work for longer and longer chunks of time.
Benjamin is a good baby and Nora is an even better big sister. He is growing apace, 13lbs and 8 oz. at his last check-up, for those that care, that means 90th percetile. Speaking of percentiles how do they calculate that, because Ben had a bit of a head start on most babies, is that figured in?
I wish our lives were more exciting. The highlight of my week was ordering a new stroller online. Yeah, the year of savings? not so much. We test drove a Toyota Highlander yesterday...
I have been watching too much Netflix. I am on season 3 of the Sopranos. I don't have a disc tonight and I feel like some part of my family is missing. Plus I have started swearing a lot more...
Work is going well. I am finally able to work for longer and longer chunks of time.
Benjamin is a good baby and Nora is an even better big sister. He is growing apace, 13lbs and 8 oz. at his last check-up, for those that care, that means 90th percetile. Speaking of percentiles how do they calculate that, because Ben had a bit of a head start on most babies, is that figured in?
I wish our lives were more exciting. The highlight of my week was ordering a new stroller online. Yeah, the year of savings? not so much. We test drove a Toyota Highlander yesterday...
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