Halloween

Ug.  My house is full, I mean full of candy.  It was obvious that hubbers remembered Halloween as being an awesome holiday as a kid and I was clearly losing the fight to not buy candy (I won the war on no costume though!).  I saw some young teens a moment ago, and they told me most kids went out last night since the holiday fell on a Sunday...

So much candy....

Not one knock at the door.  Damn I wish I won this fight.

P.S.
Happy Anniversary L and C!

P.P.S.  So sorry I missed your anniversary E and J!

Ignore the text

But check out the image.  It's called a weather bomb, that's what is doing very strange things to the entire east coast.


check out this image

Still uploading old photos

October 13, 2010

 

My cutie in her favorite chair.

 

My cutie giving me the evil eye.

My Rock Star.

These are horrible pictures of us both, but they are the only ones I have of the two of us.

So what is Fall like in North Carolina?

Bi-polar!

We had had mornings high 40's only to have a high of 65, and the next day (like today) has a high of 85 degrees!  It is windy, hot and humid!  I've retrieved our winter clothes from the garage, but haven't put any of them away, since I don't think I can pack our warm clothes away, and we've only so much room!

I've heard there is a weird  pressure front over most of the eastern coast right now, causing tornadoes and wicked waves in lakes, but so far the sky here has just been plain creepy.  This morning the sky was a dark blue, verging on navy, and the air had a strange silence to it.... Then, clear skies and normalcy.  It's done that 3 times today.  I have no idea what's going on outside, but every once in a while it looks like a hail storm will rip the skies apart, then a perfectly wonderful summer day.

What's it like where you are?

Now you see him...

Now you don't.

Jeanne and I picked up Daddy at the airport very early Saturday morning (we left at 5:40 am to get him). (see video)

Let's go get Daddy!

Note how giddy she gets when I mention picking up daddy.  Also note her handmade knit sweater fits wonderfully.  Do not note how poorly her clothes match, she's still wearing her PJ's, and it was 47F outside.

Since he has been home, Jeanne has been so very playful and attached to her dad.  It's worked both ways, Hubbers has been playing and getting as much snuggle time in with her daughter too.  Unfortunately, hubbers heads out again soon.

In other news, I signed Jeanne up for swimming classes, and go twice a week.  So far we've only had one full class, the second was canceled.  So far, she's figured out she really loves to jump into the pool.

I don't have too much else to update, so I will attempt to fill this post with photos long overdue.

These photos are from when we went pumpkin picking:

She LOVES trucks!

 

The bottom photo had a set up to let kids learn to 'milk a cow'.  She hated getting her hands dirty.

Here is Daddy and Jeanne on the hayride:

Below are pictures I took at a playground.  A playground that ALWAYS has children in it,  In fact every playground we go to, toddler sized (under 5), 'young children' sized (10 and under), or indoors (complete with mini-rock wall, 10 and under) all have children in it at all times of the day!

Here are really old videos from September 29, 2010 that I don't think I ever uploaded.

Both video's are from Jeanne playing at the Splash exhibit at the Marbles Museum.

Splash 1

Splash 2

Below: We went to the Natural History Museum with Granmommy and we had a GREAT time.  This was one of the best museums I've been to, and it was FREE!  We didn't get to see it all, so Jeanne and I will be going back this Wednesday!

The Butterfly room: October 8, 2010

Not the best picture of me.  I really wasn't as miffed as I looked.  I was annoyed with one child in the room, she kept touching Jeanne's belly, even though I and Daddy (and Jeanne) asked her to stop.

An awesome image!  We were on the second floor, looking at a blue whale skeleton.

Museum 1

Museum 2 October 8, 2010

Remember when I told you about the walk in the woods I took with Jeanne (and Jeanne didn't take more than two steps...)  Well, as I said earlier, we didn't see any cool insects, but we did see this, up close and personal!

Do you see what we saw? 

A reflection showing Jeanne on my back.

OK, it's getting late, I'll try to upload the rest later.  That is of course, if Jeanne gets better about taking naps.  She's teething, and we are weaning, so naps are not going so well.

A Walk in the Woods

It was a cool 65F and overcast this morning, so I took Jeanne to the woods to go for a walk (this time I brought my camera!).  Although, little missy had other plans.  In was almost 9:00 am, so she shouldn't have been tired, but she was like a stubborn mule! She would not walk!  She would stand in one place and observe a leaf forEVER.  Finally, I picked her up and walked maybe 2 minutes so I could get out of sight of the visitor center and our car and put her back down. 

Maybe this area is 'better' for walking?  As soon as her precious little toes hit ground I hear "UP! UP!"

OK, I strap her onto my back, and I decide I will pt her back down when she asks later.  Well, she never did.  So much for her getting some active moving time this morning!  I however, had a wonderful, cool Fall walk in the woods.  The path I took was 2.75 miles, and I double times the last 1/2 because I was worried about being away from the car too long... didn't want hubbers worrying too much!  We had done this path before, but only walked 1/3 so he would have expected me at a certain time.  Well, that all needed him to be awake to realize I was in the woods, but anyway, I digress.

I didn't see any cool insects, dagnabit, but I did see one cool animal.  I took a video, but you will have to wait a bit for the upload, I will be sure to point it out.  I will tell you again later, but the video is very shaky since I had Jeanne on my back, and she was kicking her feet and waving to the animal.... Sorry.



This path was so peaceful, I had a glorious morning, all by myself (kinda, Jeanne was cool just watching the scenery) and I loved the feeling of Fall.  I also love that this park is exactly 3 minutes from our apartment with numerous trails for us to walk, and horses, and apparently an abundance of wildlife!

I knew it would happen.

Hubbers and I have spoken about Jeanne growing up, that we recognize that she is no longer a baby.  But I think it only truly set in as fact today.  Her ability to pick up new words daily astounds me, and I cherish how she tries and practices her words. Her facial expressions can range from angry, manipulative, shocked, and ecstatic, its even funnier to watch her mimic these faces to get reactions out of me.

She walks, talks, attempts whole conversations, is actively curious about her surroundings, 'reads' books, colors, dances, sings, keeps time to music, is loving, independent and social.

I know, specifically, my Uncle Lee has said numerous times, how he was amazed at how quickly his kids grew up, and how sad it was that the baby/little person he knew and loved is just no longer. 

I'm sad too.  My precious baby is no more. I am not her world. I am still a big part of it, and I love this new, little, amazing, bright, toddler so, so much!  But she no longer fits in the crook of my arm, she no longer wishes to fall asleep on my shoulder.

I am so happy that Hubbers and I were able to bring Jeanne into this world healthy, and get her 5 pound 6 ounce body packed full of love and nutrients so she could grow.

A fun time had by all.

Hubbers decided to take last Thursday and Friday off so we could all have a mini family vacation, and I am so grateful he did.  Each day was a blast.  I told you about Thursday and the walk in the woods.

Friday we went to Downtown Raleigh to the (LINK) Museum of Natural Science.  This museum was fantastic! 4 floors all containing geological, live wildlife (reptiles, insects and butterflies), taxidermy animals (although thankfully they place wasn't packed so full you felt surrounded by death like at the Harvard Museum of Natural History (that place gave me the creeps and made me feel claustrophobic, I hated it.)

We we there for over 2 hours and barely covered half the place.  It was fantastic!  I can't wait to go back, and see what we missed.  Jeanne loved looking at the snakes and insects crawl around and follow the tracks on the ground.

Did I mention it was all free?  I love this state!  North Carolina has so many parks, facilities and programs either really cheap or free for families.  I am so glad we are here!  Oh, and parking for the museum, $2.  That's it.  That would never happen in Boston!

Sunday Mom went to go volunteer on a farm for 10-10-10 and Hubbers caught the first of 3 flights for a business trip.  Monday morning early, Grandmommy went to the airport to go back home.

I'm glad we were able to have such a long visit together, but Jeanne is taking this morning a bit hard.
She woke up early and crawled off the bed by herself and pointed to her bedroom (where Grandmommy had been sleeping).  Hearing that Grandmommy was not here, she then walked around the apartments calling for Dada.  After a few minutes of that, only mama's lap and a cup of 'juice' would do.

Thanks Mom for coming down and visiting with Jeanne for so long, she so loves you and cherishes her time with you.  Thanks hubbers too for taking some time off before your long trip, it was nice to spend some time with you and Jeanne, wish you were here!

Grandmommy is here!

My mother arrived on an early flight, 20 minutes earlier than expected, and Jeanne was a pleased as could be.  She babbled at Grandma the whole way home in the backseat.  After some super yummy breakfast we all went for a walk in the woods. There are several state parks here, but a fairly large one is about 3 minutes away from our apartment. 

It was a beautiful day, not too warm, and not too cool under the trees.  Jeanne loved picking up all the leaves on the ground, and carried around pine cones for a while.  Not a lot of forward progress was made in the beginning as Jeanne as walking under her own power, and she was curious about everything around her. ; )

While Jeanne was checking out a tree stump and the moss growing on it, I saw a preying mantis slowly creeping along the forest floor.  It was gray and black, and about as long a my hubbers hand.  We could see his abdomen contracting quickly to get more air after her crawled on hubbers hands for a while.  Jeanne loved this insect, but was upset we wouldn't let her hold it.  I was more worried about the insect then her.  I of course did not bring my camera, so no cool pic of the first preying mantis I've seen in real life.  I was bummed.

We crossed paths with several people, one was a set of women.  One woman had what looked to be a 6 month old in a baby bjorn, and they said they paths were safe for lone woman and their babes, so hopefully this made hubbers less nervous.

Jeanne could only walk for so long, although she did really well stepping over the roots.  While she was on my back I found some some beautiful beetles, hubbers called them June bugs.  Iridescent blue and purple shimmered on their shells, but they all looked like they were dying.  I didn't bring my camera, so I can't show you how pretty they were.

Last, I spied was a fantastic centipede!  About 3 inches long, mostly black body with bright yellow at the bottom of each segment.  He was a fat, fast walker, no surprise.  Jeanne was still on my back, and getting sleepy at this point, so she wasn't as interested as Mommy was.  Did I mention I didn't bring my camera?  Ug!

Oh well, live and learn...

Perhaps today we will go to the museum!  Oh I hope!

Dinner made!

I made this tonight: (LINK)
salsa chicken
in my slow cooker.  I had thawed breast meat, so did add more salsa, but because it was thawed already it cooked fully in 3 hours.  The chicken shredded wonderfully, and I made burritos with the meat, beans and veggies, topped with sour cream, cheese and jalapenos.  Even hubbers liked it!  I was so thrilled something I made was good enough for my husband (the chef) to enjoy.  WIN!

Also, for a surprise, I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies, a la Aunt Laurie's recipe.  I used to bake cookies for hubbers all the time, but haven't since Jeanne was born.  Following Ghirardelli's recipe as a foundation, and remembering Laurie's suggestions, I did the following:
cut 1/4 cup flour total
replaced 1/4 cup white flour with whole wheat
cut butter by 1/2 cup
added 1/2 cup applesauce
used 3/4 package Ghirardelli's chips

All in all a yummy day!

A sneak peak. Enjoy!

This was at the 12 week 6 day ultrasound.  All measurements and blood work returned normal.  I have another ultrasound scheduled for November 17th, in hopes to determine the sex.  Maybe then hubbers and I can figure out a name.

The best part was that this was actually 4D.  We were able to watch the fetus move in real time, kicking and moving its arms.  Very cool.  I thought people had to pay extra to get the 3D/4D images done!  Jeanne even pointed to the screen and was actively watching too.


Love you!

So I'm 33 years old now

I received lots of birthday cards from family and fun texts from friends.  Hubbers got me a great book to read before bed, and some handy cloth diapers too (not for me fools, for Jeanne, more diapers means I do laundry less often).  I also got more swim diapers and a cool float fro Jeanne in hope to use in the pool a bit more this season.  I also turned MeMaw's present into the best package eva!  When I was pregnant with Jeanne, the only lotion that helped with my dry itchy skin was Ginger whipped lotion from Origins.  Origins has an online sale and I was able to save 50% on a bunch of great Ginger Lotions. Aunt Eileen also gave me a great knitting pattern to use, THANK YOU ALL!

I wish I could have seen you all, I miss my family lots already, but NC really is quite nice, I'm glad we're here.  By far the best birthday gift I got  by far was from Jeanne.  She went to sleep at 7:30pm, and I didn't hear a peep until 5:30 this morning!  I haven't slept longer than a 4 hour stretch since I was 7 months pregnant with Jeanne (around April 2009).  Yep, for over a year and a half, I have had less than 4 consecutive hours of sleep at a time.

I am one happy woman, to have so many loving people in my life.  Special thanks to hubbers and Jeanne for making everyday a joy.


P.S. It is my hope to upload some really great images this weekend.  They will knock your socks off!

Love you!