Carrots, Peas, Corn, OH MY!

I'm not a fanatic about anything.  I don't usually obsess over things (except completing projects), so I want to start off by saying, I'm not a fanatic about making my own baby food.  I'm really not, but these purees are so easy!  I'll admit, I bought a couple at Target too of things I'm not going to puree--like prunes. Ew.  However, how helpful would prunes be for those days on end when Heidi just for the life of her won't-take-a-crap! 

So, here's our first go. There are some sweet potatoes hidden behind there too, and that's what we're starting with--TONIGHT!  It's pretty exciting introducing Heidi to new things--food, places, animals, etc, and I find this just as exciting. 

So, although Heidi has been costing us a lot of sleep this week (teething, time change, starting to arch and move around in bed...) but, through the haze, we forge forward and begin the veggie process.

A Sale or Two

After several people advised me to start an etsy site, I complied. I really didn't think anything would come of it, but, after a week or two, I've made two sales, and that's pretty cool to me! When the first email from etsy arrived saying that I made a sale, I nearly jumped for joy.  Wow! It's an incredible feeling for someone else to find your hobby interesting enough to buy.  This isn't going to become something big, but if I can help fund my hobby, it'd be great!

Thanks, everyone for the support.

And now... a picture from our sponsors.

Babies Make Seasons Better

It's true! Babies make seasons better. They give you something to look forward to, and you get to experience them in a new way--behind their eyes.  While Heidi is still pretty young, she checks out everything with big eyes and a curious look. She totally takes it all in. 

To the pumpkin patch!!

Get baby to smile- Check!

First tractor ride-Check!

First petting zoo-Check!

First corn maze-Check!

First time dad pretends I am corn-Check!

Shopping and Drinking

Who doesn't want to shop with a bottle in their mouth?! It's amazing the things you figure out how to do. "I've pulled up to Albertsons, baby is hungry, don't have a blanket to prop... here we go." This is one happy baby. Heidi looooves people. A day spent at home, is not a good day for us. Our best days are when we are running errands and have a visitor.  On this particular shopping trip, we were stopped more than seven times by different people who wanted to talk to her, touch her, tickle her, admire her. Each time a new person would approach, Heidi would give them a big grin.  She makes a lot of people's days. :)

ooooo Double-sided Table Runners...Who wants one?

I've had a few friends ask me, "How do you have time to sew?"  The answer is simple, really.  "I HAVE to find time to sew."  Having a hobby outside of being a mommy, housekeeper, cook, wife, etc, etc, is so necessary.  Even if I work on crafts after Heidi goes to bed, it makes me feel accomplished to finish something that's all my own. :)  Here is one of my latest projects--double sided table runners. :)  Halloween/harvest on one side, Christmas on the other.

So while Heidi may be screaming at me for hours on end because she's awaiting her first little tooth, I know that when she does finally crash, I can escape out back and create something.  It's a lifesaver.  That, and a glass of wine next to me.

A Day "Off"

So, once a week my mom takes Heidi for the afternoon so I can gain some sanity, independence, and get stuff done. In the beginning, I used this time to grab a nap, put the house back in order, and grocery shop.  For the past month or two months (time has become a bit fuzzy), she usually sleeps 12 hours (7pm-7am) and therefore I have been able to use my Wednesday afternoons to not only get some household stuff done, if needed, or run errands, but also to get back to my new hobby. 

After visiting JoAnn's twice already this week, I was finally able to really sit down and finish a projects I had already started. I "flouncy purse" and "yoga mat bag."  I have to say... I have impressed myself.  After three hours in the Rumpus Room and two projects totally completed, I packed up the sewing machine and all of my supplies because it'll be at least a week until I'm able to fully sew again.... 

but, I'm satisfied... 

for now!

The Happy Couple

When our good friends, The Salisbury's, told us that they were having a baby too, I was incredibly excited. Not only was I excited for them in their new adventure, but I was excited for me.  I had a feeling this mom thing would be tough, lonely, and thankless, but having someone to meet up with, walk with, gossip and bitch with--well, that could be a saving grace.

For Heidi and Quinn's second date, Heidi and I went over to Quinn's house and just hung out.  Heidi is about 4 1/2 months old and Quinn is a little squirt at only 6 weeks, yet I look at him and can't remember my big ol' smiling, grabbing, eating baby being that tiny. How quickly we forget!  We managed to get both babies down for a nap, though barely moved them for fear of waking up so we just tiptoed around the living room and let them control our lives as usual.  Such a nice visit, and so nice to have camaraderie, for both Heidi and me.

She Made a Good Connection

Some weeks are great for me. I have plans: lunch dates, walking buddies, unwinding with wine and friends, and a date planned with JR.  Other weeks, like this one, I have broken or very few plans, and a lot hours at home.  I start to realize that I only speak in daytime talk shows. "On Oprah/Ellen/The View today..."  I'm hungry and eager for companionship.  Currently, I am sitting in our glider/rocking chair in the living room, with Live with Regis and Kelly on silent, and attempting to put Heidi down for a nap by bouncing her in her bouncy chair.  This usually works, and it takes a lot less effort then walking around and doing squats for 10 minutes. This only works when I'm alone though, I can't take other people hearing her cry!

Every morning when JR leaves he jokingly says to Heidi, "Make good connections."  Well, today she made one! In the midst of having a not very exciting week and feeling rather lonely, Heidi did something to really perk me up---she ate! For a week we had been working on this eating thing, which consists of mixing dry, tiny, baby rice with formula and feeding it to her like a big girl.  The first several attempts were pretty unsuccessful. She'd sit there, smile, but once that food came close to her, she'd get her daddy's worried expression, and keep her lips pursed.  Today, however, she opened her mouth when the spoon came towards her, swallowed, and repeated. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSwglZyRB5I

(She's asleep now, but you better believe, I'm still bouncing with my feet!)

So, she made my day.  Although I will still need to figure out what to do today and keep myself busy, I feel more satisfied becacuse... my baby knows how to eat like a big girl goddamnit!

Teacher becomes Seamstress

It has been 2 years since my last posting, but if you're reading this, hopefully you could have done that simple math without my help. My world has changed. We know have the most adorable baby--affectionately called Heidi Monster. She is 3 1/2 months old. I've quit my job to do the mom thing.

After nearly 4 months of being unemployed, or rather, a "housewife," "stay-at-home-mom" or "domestic technician," I have begun to wander my mind in search of other opportunities I can pursue while staying at home to raise the child. I wouldn't want it any other way, and always knew I'd want to stay home with my children; however, I didn't realize how quickly I'd feel like I'd lost a bit of my sense of self. Who am I now that I'm a stay at home mom? I always thought of myself primarily as a teacher (after daughter, wife, friend, sister, etc), but now, I don't feel comfortable referring to myself as a teacher (since a school doesn't employ me), but now as a mom.

So.... I have decided part of my new, shiny identity will be "seamstress."  With a borrowed sewing machine, as well as all the tools, I've taken up sewing.  JR walked in the other day and said, "It's like a Chinese sweatshop in here."  Not quite, but there does seem to be little pieces of string everywhere, as well as anything little that Dixie (the cat), can easily push off the table. Hopefully in an entry very soon, there will be a link to an etsy site, where some of my pieces can be bought.