Before I was pregnant with Morgan I was extremely desensitized to the news, really very little could shock me and almost nothing could make me turn my head. After becoming pregnant I noticed anytime a news story regarding children came up I could not stand watching, hearing, or reading about it. It has become even worse the older Morgan gets I literally feel nauseous anytime I hear or read a headline about a child murder or abuse or really anything negative regarding children in any way. I just find it interesting how much having a child changed me. I have so many worries now I could never have imagined before having a child.
Last night as I was making dinner literally out of nowhere I had this horrible image flash through my head of an earthquake happening during the night while Morgan would be sleeping in his crib and realized that there is a heavy wrought iron Candelabra loosely hanging by a single nail in the wall right above his bed. I immediately made Steve take it down.
Things like this scare me. Why had I not thought of this before?! What else am I not thinking of or prepared for?! Add about 50 more of these questions/worries circling endlessly through my head and you have about a normal day in my brain.
Anyway, just thought I would share a bit of my new neurosis with you:)
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Little Gym adventure...
Last Thursday we took Morgan to the Little Gym and he had so much fun! His eyes were like dinner plates from the moment we walked in to the moment we left. There was a very nice teacher there running the class with lots of parenting and developmental tips and information. We thought we were going to be in the bugs class but they put us in the birds class which is 10 months-18 months old.
It was so funny to watch Morgan look at all the other kids with his big eyes, he was the youngest by far and the only one that couldn't walk. The teacher was saying that many babies that come into a class like this usually will take their first steps there. The whole place is covered in mats and has balance beams, double bars, and various other things.
A big parachute was brought out at one point and a giant foam donut was put in the middle where the babies could stand inside and hold on while the parents twirled the whole parachute around in a circle. Morgan was one of the only ones that didn't cry. He did the cutest thing during this activity, the little boy next to him started crying and Morgan looked over at him and put his hand on his back as if to comfort him. It was sooooo sweet!
The teacher also brought out some rubber balls which was a big hit. She showed us how to teach him to roll the ball back and forth which he apparently can learn to do at this age. She also brought out bubbles, we let Morgan just take off on his own and he crawled right out into the middle with all the other kids trying to catch the bubbles. While the kids were running around popping them one little boy charged right over Morgan landing on top of him. Morgan acted like nothing even happened and kept on looking for the bubbles. It was very funny.
Overall, we all had a really great time. It was so cool to see Morgan interact with other kids which until this point he had only met his 3 year old cousin a couple times. We could tell the class already had an impact on him he was so much more curious and when we got him home and put him in his play area he was more active.
Unfortunately, that was just a free trial class and it's a little more money than we have at the moment since we are short due to school and whatnot so we aren't able to go back which is a big big bummer!:( Anyway, I highly recommend the Little Gym, although I can see it really depending on how good the teacher is that you get. We were lucky and the lady teaching the class we were going to sign up for was awesome. I didn't take any pictures either mainly because we were having such a good time I didn't want to waste it behind a camera.
I am going to post ultrasound pictures soon. The last ultrasound we were at we were able to see our little girl sucking her thumb which was amazing. Morgan did the same thing in the womb and still does if he doesn't have a binky when he's tired. Apparently Steve was a thumb sucker as well so we know who to blame. :)
It was so funny to watch Morgan look at all the other kids with his big eyes, he was the youngest by far and the only one that couldn't walk. The teacher was saying that many babies that come into a class like this usually will take their first steps there. The whole place is covered in mats and has balance beams, double bars, and various other things.
A big parachute was brought out at one point and a giant foam donut was put in the middle where the babies could stand inside and hold on while the parents twirled the whole parachute around in a circle. Morgan was one of the only ones that didn't cry. He did the cutest thing during this activity, the little boy next to him started crying and Morgan looked over at him and put his hand on his back as if to comfort him. It was sooooo sweet!
The teacher also brought out some rubber balls which was a big hit. She showed us how to teach him to roll the ball back and forth which he apparently can learn to do at this age. She also brought out bubbles, we let Morgan just take off on his own and he crawled right out into the middle with all the other kids trying to catch the bubbles. While the kids were running around popping them one little boy charged right over Morgan landing on top of him. Morgan acted like nothing even happened and kept on looking for the bubbles. It was very funny.
Overall, we all had a really great time. It was so cool to see Morgan interact with other kids which until this point he had only met his 3 year old cousin a couple times. We could tell the class already had an impact on him he was so much more curious and when we got him home and put him in his play area he was more active.
Unfortunately, that was just a free trial class and it's a little more money than we have at the moment since we are short due to school and whatnot so we aren't able to go back which is a big big bummer!:( Anyway, I highly recommend the Little Gym, although I can see it really depending on how good the teacher is that you get. We were lucky and the lady teaching the class we were going to sign up for was awesome. I didn't take any pictures either mainly because we were having such a good time I didn't want to waste it behind a camera.
I am going to post ultrasound pictures soon. The last ultrasound we were at we were able to see our little girl sucking her thumb which was amazing. Morgan did the same thing in the womb and still does if he doesn't have a binky when he's tired. Apparently Steve was a thumb sucker as well so we know who to blame. :)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Our Vegetarian Baby
While we were at the beach we bought some organic baby food in jars which was a turning point for Morgan's meals. He absolutely loved the food! It made me wonder what the heck was I doing wrong with the homemade stuff?! I think it had to do with the texture at that point. Since then we have been buying jars of baby food but the organic vegetarian toddler stage food is very hard to find and there are only a couple kinds to choose from.
So, I started researching baby nutrition and vegetarian menus for babies. The resources are limited out there which is stressful and frustrating because it is important he gets the right vitamins and nutrients. I am feeling more confident now after much reading and sifting through conflicting information I feel that I CAN do this right. It's actually easier than I thought, I just need to relax.
He is now eating three meals a day plus his formula. In the morning he gets organic whole grain oatmeal with fruit mixed with formula and for lunch I just started him on soft tofu mashed with chunks of avocado which he really likes. Tonight I made some red lentils with carrots and celery and made some brown rice which I am going to mix with pumpkin and tofu. So, I am saying goodbye to the expensive jar food and back to cooking healthy organic meals. Basically, regardless of what some people think you can raise a very healthy vegetarian baby probably healthier than your average bear since they get a wider variety of vegetables, grains and proteins. This way of eating just takes a little more planning and thought and is healthier in the long run.
So far banana is his favorite food. Lately I have been cutting them into chunks and letting him pick them up or I should say attempt to pick up. When he manages to get a chunk he squishes it in his hand. He has tried a couple times to get it into his mouth but he misses. :(
In other news he had his 9 month check up and weighs 20 lbs.! It is about time we move onto a regular car seat and ditch the baby carrier it's just too heavy now.
I'll make a picture post soon.
So, I started researching baby nutrition and vegetarian menus for babies. The resources are limited out there which is stressful and frustrating because it is important he gets the right vitamins and nutrients. I am feeling more confident now after much reading and sifting through conflicting information I feel that I CAN do this right. It's actually easier than I thought, I just need to relax.
He is now eating three meals a day plus his formula. In the morning he gets organic whole grain oatmeal with fruit mixed with formula and for lunch I just started him on soft tofu mashed with chunks of avocado which he really likes. Tonight I made some red lentils with carrots and celery and made some brown rice which I am going to mix with pumpkin and tofu. So, I am saying goodbye to the expensive jar food and back to cooking healthy organic meals. Basically, regardless of what some people think you can raise a very healthy vegetarian baby probably healthier than your average bear since they get a wider variety of vegetables, grains and proteins. This way of eating just takes a little more planning and thought and is healthier in the long run.
So far banana is his favorite food. Lately I have been cutting them into chunks and letting him pick them up or I should say attempt to pick up. When he manages to get a chunk he squishes it in his hand. He has tried a couple times to get it into his mouth but he misses. :(
In other news he had his 9 month check up and weighs 20 lbs.! It is about time we move onto a regular car seat and ditch the baby carrier it's just too heavy now.
I'll make a picture post soon.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!!!
Yesterday our baby turned 9 months old! Today I woke up to flowers, a card and breakfast for Mother's Day from Morgan and Steve. After a slow lazy start we headed over to the Everett Arboretum for some photo taking fun! I will post more soon just wanted to share this adorable shot right away.
Friday, May 1, 2009
CLAM DIG 2009, Easter, and It's a GIRL!!!
Yesterday, I had my ultrasound and to our surprise we found out we are having a girl!!!!! I couldn't be more happy. I was convinced I was having a boy mainly because I didn't want to get my hopes up and then be severely disappointed. The baby didn't want to show herself yesterday so they were unable to get a profile shot or a good look at her heart so I get to have another ultrasound in two weeks. We almost didn't find out the sex because she had her legs crossed and was sitting on them but the Tech let me get up and move around to see if she would change positions and it worked! (I will admit I went into the bathroom and did jumping jacks, I just couldn't stand the thought of having to wait two more weeks to find out)
It's been a month since I posted and many things have been happening around here. I never did my Easter picture post which was due to lack of energy however I will post some shots still since Steve and I went all over looking for the perfect outfit (which we finally found). A couple nights before Easter our friends Myk and Haley came over to dye Easter Eggs which was fun for all including Morgan who watched from his highchair. We had a good quiet Easter with my mom at our house and had a yummy meal which included my Grandma's potato salad since we had so many damn hard boiled eggs. ;) I would say the most interesting thing about Easter was Morgan's discovery of how to make a motorboat sound with his lips. He did it pretty much all day:) He also likes to vary the sound of the motorboat so sometimes they are happy and high pitch and other times they are mad angry motorboats. The first few pics of the Easter slideshow is the face he makes when motorboating.
Last Weekend we went out to Copalis and stayed at the Sandpiper for our 11th anniversary together as well as for a 3 day Razor Clam Dig :) Steve's Mom, Aunt Terry and his Uncle Per as well as a couple friends of Steve's Mom were there too. Steve dug both our limits each day since I was just not up to it. Morgan and I helped spot clams and gave moral support though. The strangest thing happened right when we arrived Morgan started crawling on his hands and knees. I think the 3+ hour car ride there gave him time to think about it:) Morgan did so well on the beach for the AM clam digs! The first day was very windy and he didn't like it at first but soon figured out how to turn his head away from the wind and was fine. The next two days were gorgeous and there was no wind. The weather was just beautiful and we had a great time!
I'm trying something new this time. Instead of editing every photo and inserting them individually onto the blog I'm just uploading them to Shutterfly as is and then inserting a slide show on here for your viewing pleasure, thus saving an infinite amount of time. :) This way you will get to see more pictures and I will save some sanity of trying to perfect every shot.
Below is the Clam Dig slide show and I will add the Easter Slide show below that as well!
EASTER 2009
It's been a month since I posted and many things have been happening around here. I never did my Easter picture post which was due to lack of energy however I will post some shots still since Steve and I went all over looking for the perfect outfit (which we finally found). A couple nights before Easter our friends Myk and Haley came over to dye Easter Eggs which was fun for all including Morgan who watched from his highchair. We had a good quiet Easter with my mom at our house and had a yummy meal which included my Grandma's potato salad since we had so many damn hard boiled eggs. ;) I would say the most interesting thing about Easter was Morgan's discovery of how to make a motorboat sound with his lips. He did it pretty much all day:) He also likes to vary the sound of the motorboat so sometimes they are happy and high pitch and other times they are mad angry motorboats. The first few pics of the Easter slideshow is the face he makes when motorboating.
Last Weekend we went out to Copalis and stayed at the Sandpiper for our 11th anniversary together as well as for a 3 day Razor Clam Dig :) Steve's Mom, Aunt Terry and his Uncle Per as well as a couple friends of Steve's Mom were there too. Steve dug both our limits each day since I was just not up to it. Morgan and I helped spot clams and gave moral support though. The strangest thing happened right when we arrived Morgan started crawling on his hands and knees. I think the 3+ hour car ride there gave him time to think about it:) Morgan did so well on the beach for the AM clam digs! The first day was very windy and he didn't like it at first but soon figured out how to turn his head away from the wind and was fine. The next two days were gorgeous and there was no wind. The weather was just beautiful and we had a great time!
I'm trying something new this time. Instead of editing every photo and inserting them individually onto the blog I'm just uploading them to Shutterfly as is and then inserting a slide show on here for your viewing pleasure, thus saving an infinite amount of time. :) This way you will get to see more pictures and I will save some sanity of trying to perfect every shot.
Below is the Clam Dig slide show and I will add the Easter Slide show below that as well!
Click here to view these pictures larger
EASTER 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Aquarium Mysteries...
A few weeks ago I had Morgan with me when I went to the pet store. Because it was his first time there I decided to show him around. He didn't pay much attention to the mammals, but the fish were apparently fascinating. With this knowledge we decided that we would take him to the Seattle Aquarium and see if he is actually old enough to get something out of the experience. Our original plan was to give him his morning bottle, pack into the car early, he could nap on the way and then we could enjoy a quiet run around a near empty aquarium with an awake attentive baby. If a single element of this overall plan had gone awry I wouldn't suspect a thing, but given the actual result of our trip I'm pretty sure that a higher power was conspiring against us.
Things seemed to be going well until about halfway there when Morgan suddenly exploded into a fit of baby rage in the back of the car, filling the last 20 minutes of our trip with inconsolable shrieking. Apparently he had failed entirely to nap as planned on the way there, so when we showed up we had a very tired grumpy baby on our hands. Once inside the aquarium it was clear that it was not at all the quiet day that we were hoping for. There was not one but two school groups there on a field trip. In fact for the first little bit it was nearly impossible to get Morgan to pay attention to the fish since he was so fascinated with the huge crowd of kids milling about the place.
In the end the fact that things did not go according to plan did not prevent the whole family from having a good time. As we made it further into the aquarium Morgan showed clear interest in the various exhibits and while he was a little tired he was attentive and engaged. Luckily the Seattle Aquarium is small and turned out to be just right for his baby attention span. Just as we were leaving his interest in the environment completely evaporated. The tropical fish, with their bright colors against an azure background, were the most fascinating of the exhibits. Glass is still a mystery, with Morgan constantly smacking his hands and head against the glass of the tanks trying to get at the fish. Interestingly enough the Otters and Seals were practically invisible to Morgan, even with them both being highly active. It's hard to say if it was the relatively dark colors of those animals or just that it was near the end of the day and therefore he was too tired to pay attention.
Here are some pics! Taken with the Coolpics so they aren't high quality but you get the picture.
Here he is glaring when we finally got there...
Still intrigued by all the people at this point (we thought going early during the week we would miss the crowds but apparently there were several field trips happening)
Oooohhhh...jelly fish!
That is an octopus he is trying to feel.
After the aquarium we went to Anthony's Homeport for a delicious seafood lunch. Oh it's a funny life.
Things seemed to be going well until about halfway there when Morgan suddenly exploded into a fit of baby rage in the back of the car, filling the last 20 minutes of our trip with inconsolable shrieking. Apparently he had failed entirely to nap as planned on the way there, so when we showed up we had a very tired grumpy baby on our hands. Once inside the aquarium it was clear that it was not at all the quiet day that we were hoping for. There was not one but two school groups there on a field trip. In fact for the first little bit it was nearly impossible to get Morgan to pay attention to the fish since he was so fascinated with the huge crowd of kids milling about the place.
In the end the fact that things did not go according to plan did not prevent the whole family from having a good time. As we made it further into the aquarium Morgan showed clear interest in the various exhibits and while he was a little tired he was attentive and engaged. Luckily the Seattle Aquarium is small and turned out to be just right for his baby attention span. Just as we were leaving his interest in the environment completely evaporated. The tropical fish, with their bright colors against an azure background, were the most fascinating of the exhibits. Glass is still a mystery, with Morgan constantly smacking his hands and head against the glass of the tanks trying to get at the fish. Interestingly enough the Otters and Seals were practically invisible to Morgan, even with them both being highly active. It's hard to say if it was the relatively dark colors of those animals or just that it was near the end of the day and therefore he was too tired to pay attention.
Here are some pics! Taken with the Coolpics so they aren't high quality but you get the picture.
Here he is glaring when we finally got there...
Still intrigued by all the people at this point (we thought going early during the week we would miss the crowds but apparently there were several field trips happening)
Oooohhhh...jelly fish!
That is an octopus he is trying to feel.
After the aquarium we went to Anthony's Homeport for a delicious seafood lunch. Oh it's a funny life.
Lofty Ambitions
There comes a point in any major home improvement project where the intrepid do it yourselfer looks at the damage that he/she has wraught and thinks, "Oh shit what the hell did I just do?" This is a natural reaction to demolishing that which was to make room for that which is to be. It's typically shortly after that moment when things start to come together again in their new form and the moment of terror fades to be replaced by excitement at the soon to be completed project. So far in my current project, everytime I think I have hit that low point things just keep getting crazier.
It has occured to me now that not only did I misjudge the scope of this project when I started, I also have crossed a critical line into territory where the average do it youselfer would never venture. In the planning stages it seemed so minor, take out the ugly wood paneling and ceiling tiles and replace them with sheetrock. While the place is gutted, run new wire and install new lights and outlets. Presented in that format it doesn't sound so intimidating, the reality is that I have taken an outdated but otherwise livible floor of my house and gutted it down to the bare skeleton. This is no minor update, it's a full fledged remodel. Every stage of the project has been more labor intensive than I originally pictured it and the path is not so clear as I would have liked. The fact that this is a very old house and that the upstairs has clearly been renovated more than once where new construction was rudely tacked onto old confuses things and makes it hard to tell what is critical and what is not. The sheer amount of material that I have taken out of the upstairs is insane in and of itself. I'd say around 5 truckloads of garbage now.
For those of you who saw the loft before I started, you can appreciate how far this has come. For those of you that havent, just knowing that this was a fully finished space before I started should be enough.
As you can see the walls, ceiling tiles, slats that the ceiling tiles were nailed too, and blow in insulation are all pretty much gone now. Next steps are to finish up the last little bit of demo, rewire and install junction boxes for lights and outlets, then install new insulation. I think that's probably as far as I'm going to get this week. Sheetrocking, trim, and paint will have to be a weekend thing over the next month or so.
Because of the insulation and dust I have to work wrapped head to toe and wearing a respirator, the result is respirator warpaint:
It has occured to me now that not only did I misjudge the scope of this project when I started, I also have crossed a critical line into territory where the average do it youselfer would never venture. In the planning stages it seemed so minor, take out the ugly wood paneling and ceiling tiles and replace them with sheetrock. While the place is gutted, run new wire and install new lights and outlets. Presented in that format it doesn't sound so intimidating, the reality is that I have taken an outdated but otherwise livible floor of my house and gutted it down to the bare skeleton. This is no minor update, it's a full fledged remodel. Every stage of the project has been more labor intensive than I originally pictured it and the path is not so clear as I would have liked. The fact that this is a very old house and that the upstairs has clearly been renovated more than once where new construction was rudely tacked onto old confuses things and makes it hard to tell what is critical and what is not. The sheer amount of material that I have taken out of the upstairs is insane in and of itself. I'd say around 5 truckloads of garbage now.
For those of you who saw the loft before I started, you can appreciate how far this has come. For those of you that havent, just knowing that this was a fully finished space before I started should be enough.
As you can see the walls, ceiling tiles, slats that the ceiling tiles were nailed too, and blow in insulation are all pretty much gone now. Next steps are to finish up the last little bit of demo, rewire and install junction boxes for lights and outlets, then install new insulation. I think that's probably as far as I'm going to get this week. Sheetrocking, trim, and paint will have to be a weekend thing over the next month or so.
Because of the insulation and dust I have to work wrapped head to toe and wearing a respirator, the result is respirator warpaint:
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