Meander

What's new...

2011-02-12T17:35:00.004-06:00

Well, it's been a while.

2011-01-25T14:47:00.002-06:00

Really, over a year. I have no excuses, other than this losing its novelty a bit. However, I want to remember my time with Baby Forrest in the same way I remember my time home with Dexter so I think I need to update now and again. No promises as to frequency though. Forrest was one month on January 21st. We visited the doc today. He's 9lbs, 9oz and 21& 3/4 inches. Both measurements are on the 50% mark of the growth chart. We're slowly settling into routines. He likes to be held. He likes being bounced in his Bouncy Chair. He is starting to like being "worn" in the sling. We're getting the hang of this cloth diaper thing, and the sun is peeking through the clouds. So, all in all, a good day.

Funny things Dex says right now that I hope I remember later...

2010-01-10T16:08:00.003-06:00

togetter
glubs (gloves)
I want you to lay for me. (Prepositions are tricky...he means lay with me.)
When Dex takes a drink of something tasty he licks his lips, shakes his head and says in his hammiest voice: "Yum Yum! I liiiike it!"
Buzz Liker
Stoy Tory
Finity and beyond
Smoobie (smoothie)
Moobie (movie)
Ha ga doctor (helicoptor)
Alligator (elevator/ escalator)
Puffing Train (any train that runs on a battery)
"Mommy, Daddy, I have to tell you a question: First the witchy witch frows the thing down and it turns into smoke-fire. Then Dorphee frows the bucket on her and then the witchy witch meltses."

This must be what I look like while I type...

2010-01-08T20:36:00.002-06:00

Here I am having fun with the computers webcam. Happy New Year! I think 2010 is going to be a good year. I am not making specific resolutions this year. Instead I am trying to stick with two "main ideas" and let them guide me.

1. Work has really sucked lately; so all that energy, creativity and enthusiasm that usually goes into my job is now going into taking care of myself. Hopefully my hair will look nice the next time you see me.

2. Act the way you want to feel. I want to feel happy and positive. I will try not to get too bogged down in nonsense and gossip.

That's it. Not too deep, but hopefully achievable. Otherwise...in a nutshell...things are good. My son is hilarious but prone to annoying whining/ crying fits. Joel is great. I am always amazed at what a good dad he is. I am lucky to have wonderful friends and family. Work will figure itself out one way or another. This year I am giving myself permission to slow down!

2009-10-06T18:00:00.002-05:00

Oh yeah, I have a blog.

A friend told me that she was sick of looking at my scrambled eggs. So, here you go. What's new with you? I am sure you heard about the "Dreaded Poison Ivy from Danger Island". Horrendous. Here's what else is new: work is pretty brutal. Dexter's super cute. Joel plays the Saxophone and Keys and looks good with a new hair cut. My living room floor is covered in train tracks. I like to make out with my Kindle 2. (It's an electronic READING device. Get your mind out of the gutter.) I like to read about my friends' running adventures on their Facebook status updates. Does this count as exercise? OK, I'm tired now. Have a good evening.

Recipe Attempt two: Are you sensing a theme?

2009-06-28T21:30:00.004-05:00

I have now made the "Best Scrambled Eggs" recipe from HTCE several times. The basic theory is...cook at a low temperature, break up into small curds, be patient! The first time I made them Joel was a bit skeptical. The quote: "When I saw them on the plate I thought they were underdone, and I thought I usually liked them in bigger pieces, but I would eat this everyday if you made it for me." Much more positive feedback then with the Quiche, so thumbs up to this one. Here are some pics from our Sunny, Sunday Scramble. I've included the recipe at the bottom.

2 to 4 TBLSPNS butter
5 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tspn fresh tarragon (I used dill because that's what I had in the garden)
2 TBLSPNS cream

Place medium skillet over high heat for a minute. Add the butter and swirl it around in the pan. After the butter melts, but before it foams turn the heat to low.
Beat the eggs with the remaining ingredients and pour into the skillet. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. At first nothing will happen; after 10 minutes or so the eggs will begin to form curds. Do not lose patience: Keep stirring, breaking up the curds as they form, until the mixture is a mass of soft curds. This will take 30 minutes or more.

Recipe Attempt 1: Basic Quiche

2009-06-24T06:18:00.003-05:00

When we were little my mom used to make Quiche Lorraine a lot. I was a very picky eater, but this was one of my faves. My mom used to work for Magic Chef in the early 80's so we had a microwave pretty early on. Her job involved creating microwave recipes and demonstrating them for people at department stores. I think we were guinea pigs, but I liked this particular Magic Chef recipe so no complaints here. (Though I am still skeptical of her claims of doing a whole Thanksgiving dinner in the microwave. C'mon mom, that's just disrespectful to the pilgrims.)

OK in How to Cook Everything (HTCE) Mark Bittman suggests you make a Quiche pie crust from scratch. That would probably taste better, but I am dipping my toes in right now, so I bought a Marie Callender ready made pie crust. I did follow MB's directions to poke several holes in it with a fork, cover it with tin foil and put some beans on the tin foil to weight it down. I followed his advice to use Gruyere, 2 cups cream, and 6 eggs, but then I added bacon because who doesn't luurrrve bacon? (Jen, but I think everyone else does). I also added some chives from my garden. So following the recipe in spirit anyway.

Final results? I liked it a lot. I made two and gave one to the neighbors who have a new baby. They seemed to like it. Joel didn't have seconds, which doesn't bode well for his enjoyment, but for a nice, easy, but not healthy recipe this one was pretty good. Plus it provided a trip down memory lane. I'll give it a B.

Start with two cups of ambition, mix with heaping tablespoons of self-deprication...

2009-06-18T11:29:00.003-05:00

Lately I have begun to doubt my cooking ability. Here is the evidence piling up:
• When my in-laws come to visit, I always make Joel cook or we order carry out. I don’t trust myself to cook something disaster-free with an audience.
• Whenever I bring a dish to a party or a potluck, I always burn it or undercook it, or end up bringing fresh fruit. (This makes me look like healthy mom who wants healthy options, but really it is because I have a good set of knives and some access to good, fresh produce. Sneaky.)
• Mostly, we make a lot of EZ dinners. For example…frozen pastas with veggies from Trader Joe’s that you just throw in a skillet, turkey taco salad, hot dogs on the grill.

But I want to do better! I would like us to eat more healthfully, and I would like the satisfaction of feeding my family. (I don’t think I have fallen too victim to the “Cult of Domesticity,” but I think I will find this to be a rewarding quest.)

So here is the summer challenge I have given myself: I have had Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything sitting around my kitchen, barely cracked, for two years. I started reading and liked his opinions that the best foods are those that are fairly simple to make with close at hand, high-quality ingredients. Happily, Joel and I planted tomatoes and an herb garden this summer for the first time. This will give me easier access to those fresh ingredients.

I think I will have some challenges in my quest to be an average cook:
• Money is tighter than usual because of a very expensive car repair. I have to at least start with things I already have around the house.
• I think my oven cooks things unevenly. In my old apartment I used to make excellent chocolate chip cookies. I have not gotten a batch exactly right since we’ve lived here in this house. (Although the presence of a toddler might affect my patience and attention to detail as well.)
• I like to make excuses.

Finally, I don’t pretend this is a new idea. (Many blogs exist where an enterprising young writer tackles an entire cook book. I don’t plan to cook the entire cookbook, and I don’t have aspirations of a book deal or advertising revenue, I just want to learn to make a decent meal for my family when I try.) This is also not going to be a food blog because I am certainly not a foodie. I just aspire to be called a “decent cook” because right now I am more like an “excellent burner”. I am writing about it because, so far, I am having fun. It will be nice to read about the process later on. Please keep reading if you are so inclined, and let me know if you are brave enough to be a taster. I have two recipes to update you about coming soon. (They both involve eggs. Seemed like a good place to start.)

Once Upon A Dream

2009-06-02T22:54:00.001-05:00

Dexter's been watching too much Sleeping Beauty lately.

The Monticello Railway Museum

2009-05-11T21:24:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow

2009-04-02T10:00:00.001-05:00

Hmm...
Will Dexter survive his weird mommy?

Weekend with the Michigan Grandparents

2009-03-31T09:23:00.004-05:00

Dexter and I visited the Michigan grandparents this past weekend. First we stayed with Martha and David in Lowell. Dex could have spent the whole days throwing rocks in the water and saying "splash".

Then we visited Lon and Mary in EGR. Grandpa and Mimi showed him how to make scrambbled eggs.

We had so much fun that we made cupcakes yesterday too.

Annual green post...

2009-03-15T17:37:00.002-05:00

We had much fun at the parade...

Until...we didn't anymore.

Rainy Weekend

2009-03-09T12:11:00.001-05:00

Dex got his haircut and thought he looked like his dad, so I dressed him in a tie. He walked around saying, "I like daddy."

Valentine

2009-02-15T09:36:00.001-06:00

Happy Valentine's from Dex

You'll find "Entertainment Weekly" atop my toilet

2009-02-14T13:02:00.001-06:00

"Entertainment Weekly"
I have subscribing to EW since college. I can't let it go. I like to stay up on all those cable shows I am not watching and all those movies I don't get to see, but they actually have a nice, short book review section that isn't too pretentious.

"Parenting"
My cousin got me a subscription as a baby gift, and if you can get past all the ads, I actually like to read some of the articles and tips.

"Bitch"
The subtitle for that magazine is "A Feminist Response to Pop Culture". It reminds me of all those papers I wrote during my Women's Studies minor days.

Plinky...

2009-01-31T07:57:00.002-06:00

I originally started Meander 3and a half years ago as a way to write more often. Then life intervened. I still would like to write more often, so sometimes I am going to cheat. Plinky is an online writing prompt generator. Sometimes I am going to steal their topic ideas and post them here. (See below.)

When I realized I was a grown-up

2009-01-31T07:56:00.001-06:00

In small ways I realized I was an adult only when I had a child. I still have flashes of feeling so much like a kid though that I believe my home, child, and husband are all part of an elaborate game of house that little girl me is playing.

2009-01-27T19:54:00.002-06:00

Hey There!

I am really reaching for posts so I am going to give you some lists:

In honor of the cold, top five ice cream flavors:
1. Neopalitin (Breyer's only.)
2. Rainbow cone
3. Butter Pecan
4. Vanilla Bean
5. Rainbow Sherbet
(None of that new-fangled crap for me.)

Favorite books that I read in 2008:
1. Black Swan Green (David Mitchell)
2. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
3. Everything else I read that wasn't part of the Twilight series

Top five playcount on my iPod:
Blue Danube Waltz (makes Dex stop crying)
We Are the Dinosaurs (another Dexter fave)
Breakable (Ingrid Michaelson)
Gray or Blue (Jaymay)
Sweet Thang (Rufus and Chaka Khan)

I cringe when people (including me) say:
LOL
LMFAO
24/7
touch base (or worse, touch bases)

I am not very talented at:
cooking
painting
drumming
clapping along in time to music
minding my own business

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2009-01-16T04:49:00.004-06:00

It's snowy and very cold here. I could sit here and make a bunch of excuses about why I haven't posted in so long, but you've heard them all before.
I guess it was easier to post when I had a baby who rarely slept, but didn't move around a whole lot. Now I am taking care of this little person. Oddly, he makes demands of my time. Imagine that!

Oh yeah, and Facebook is partially to blame as well.

This is the Harry Lauder's Walking Stick plant from Martha and David. I think it looks cool in all seasons, but my favorite is the winter.
I think the plant looks sort of how my brain feels. Which is why sometimes you'll ask me a question about what I am doing this weekend, or if I've seen your keys lying around and I'll respond with some crazy non sequitur like "Shop Vac!"

Dex and Lenny are still as cute as ever in a new season. Now they go to school together and so far, so good. They could have stayed out shoveling for hours but mom and dads got cold.

If you promise not to get sick of looking at pictures of my kid, I'll do a better job of giving you something to see.

Holiday Cheer

2008-12-15T11:50:00.001-06:00

Two!

2008-12-07T21:02:00.001-06:00

Notice Dexter's shiner? Try to ignore the soundtrack. This is how the little man spent his birthday.

Thankful

2008-11-30T20:58:00.002-06:00

Choo Choo Dex

2008-11-02T19:24:00.001-06:00

We set up Dex's trains on an old end table. Now he hangs out in the corner all day.

Halloween 2008

2008-11-02T12:05:00.005-06:00

Well, I couldn't get Joel to dress up in costume,

but Dex looked pretty cute in his:

Visit to Gram's House...

2008-11-02T11:54:00.001-06:00

2008-10-16T06:43:00.003-05:00

While McCain vies for the acceptance of Joe Six Pack, Joe Plumber, and Average Joe, I thought it would be a good time to review some recent poll results.

After several weeks of deliberation, these formerly undecided voters have declared their support for Obama:

Joe Schmoe
Joe Blow
Cuppa Joe
Joe Cool
Bazooka Joe
GI Joe
Joe Boxer
Joltin' Joe
Joe Versus the Volcano
Ragtime Cowboy Joe

Leaves

2008-10-13T21:33:00.001-05:00

Wow! I haven't posted in, like, a million years! I don't have much to say! Oh the pressure.
What have I been doing instead of blogging?
-Lesson plans
-Budgeting
-Learning about hand food and mouth disease, the hard way
-Perfecting my Sarah Palin impersonation...then growing really tired of Sarah Palin impersonations
-Not watching very many Cubs playoff games
-Correcting some horrendous grammar
-Avoiding familial political discussions like the coward I am...

Here at long last though is a little Dex footage. Enjoy!

Don't be a stranger!

My new medium...

2008-09-07T20:38:00.002-05:00

popsicle photography!

Hanging out Labor Day morning

2008-09-07T20:18:00.001-05:00

If you have a few minutes you can watch this big boy just hanging out on a weekend morning.

Dear John McCain,

2008-09-04T21:43:00.002-05:00

One thing this Catholic girl loves about her country is the separation of Church and State. It was introduced by a wacky guy named Thomas Jefferson. Have you heard of him "Maverick"? Also, thanks for suggesting that you'll help bad teachers find a new line of work. I hope to do the same with bad politicians in November.

I can't even get into "drill baby drill".

Thanks,
Meander

Woo hoo! Another way to waste time on the computer...

2008-08-23T20:44:00.005-05:00

Got a face shot of yourself? Then try Yearbook Yourself. This is me circa 1964 and 1966. Sometimes the face doesn't line up right, but sometimes the results are pretty hilarious.

Other times the results are just plain creepy. Dex circa 1956:

And Joel looking fabulous in 1984...

2008-08-23T20:20:00.004-05:00

We just got back from a few days on the lake. Dex loved it. I had a lot of time to read, so I am going to do something crazy and spend a minute talking about books. (Well, kind of...they are books, but they're written for teens.)

Several of my teacher friends, a few of my students, and Joel's niece have recently been obsessed with a vampire series written for adolescent young women called Twilight. I started reading them though and am a little perplexed. I don't love them. The stories are really engaging, so I am hooked and will read all four. But it is, as LaSirena put it, "literary crack". (Yes, you read it, but it leaves you pretty unsatisfied.) I have real issues with the main character. I don't understand the things that she does and I think she is a horrible role model for young women. My co-workers argue that we all read VC Andrews and that was certainly pretty messed up. I'll concede that point. Joel says it just sounds like the author stuck to the conventions of gothic storytelling with a fainting heroine and a controlling man. That might be true, but still...I hate to think of dozens of teenage girls reading this and thinking that the relationship between the main characters, Bella and Edward, is the kind of relationship to aspire to. Anyway, that's what I have been reading, and if you haven't heard of the series yet, you will soon. The movie comes out in November.

Squeezing Every bit of fun out of the back yard...

2008-08-19T09:39:00.003-05:00

Somewhere there are dancing penguins and fuzzy little kitties weeping little tiny tears because their cuteness crown has been usurped. Dexter and our neighbor, Lenny are just too funny in the yard. They were fighting over Lenny's bicycle helmet until we dug out Dexter's (which he normally won't touch without a battle). They ran around the yard giggling the rest of the evening playing two man Ring Around the Rosey and sharing "posicles". I am definitely one of those moms who thinks that everything my kid does is THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER! (I promise I won't show off his dirty diapers if you come and visit though.)

Dexter at the Bean...

2008-08-10T07:54:00.003-05:00

Wow have we been having a great summer! In my totally biased opinion, Little Man gets cuter every day. Of course, he becomes more independent every day, no longer humoring me with my frequent requests for kisses for Mama. The best reward though is that, once in a while, I surprise him with something he thinks is just so funny or awesome that he gives me a giant hug and a kiss, totally unbidden. Something tells me those will be harder to come by the older he gets.

He looks like an angel...

2008-08-05T20:58:00.005-05:00

But he's the devil in disguise.

Mama's Hyundai is not how I roll. Let's see if I can find me a sweet new ride. Seriously I am not creative enough to have staged that. He just climbed up and started flipping through. Later we went to the Museum of Science and Industry.

Science is awesome.

So are his big-kid friends.

Later Dex flipped his hat backwards and started climbing everything that was stationary in the back yard. I had to bribe him with a popsicle to get him to sit still.

But all he did was taunt me.

Three years of Meandering

2008-07-29T20:51:00.003-05:00

So on Sunday Meander turned three. I am proud of that although I think this has taken on a much different form than originally planned. Mainly because Dexter wasn't here three years ago. I love everything about that little man, but my creative energy gets pretty drained trying to invent new diversions to keep him from climbing the walls. So for now, this is a place where I post pictures of my son. Hopefully I'll say something witty once in a while. I have enjoyed blogging and getting my family involved too. But right now there is a sink full of dishes and a popsicle calling my name so later y'all.

Summer time and the livin' is easy...

2008-07-16T10:25:00.001-05:00

Joey Roundup (minus 2)

2008-07-10T21:04:00.004-05:00

And on the plane on our way to Boston.

Daddy's Little Rhythm Section

2008-07-03T06:37:00.002-05:00

2008-06-30T15:50:00.002-05:00

Dexter and I (and sometimes Joel) have been on a crazy midwest tour. Michigan, Chicago, Central Illinois, and Wisonsin in one week. Here are a few photos...

Doesn't this belong in a catalog?

2008-06-22T21:21:00.006-05:00

Well, it's summer and I've been having fun so I haven't posted in a while. Summer gets kind of busy with weddings and trying to spend equal amounts of time with all of your divorced parents. (I love you all :) ). It is fun busy though. This past weekend I got to relive the past a little bit. When I was very little my family and some good friends of ours would go to Sister Lakes in Michigan. We usually rented these tiny cottages on Dewey Lake or we'd stay in a "resort" called Shady Shores. Shady Shores has not changed a bit. The playground equipment, the furniture, the cabins have not been updated since the sixties. Everything was very clean, but very rustic. It was great though. I don't know if my photos will do justice, but it was a beautiful weekend and Little Man had a blast.

Little Man, big trees...

Donovan was a good sport for most of the weekend too.

Make way for goslings

2008-06-03T08:41:00.002-05:00

This morning as I was driving down 95th street to take D to daycare, what should I see but a family of geese meandering down the middle of a busy street. (The picture above is a representation, and I think the picture is of ducks. I saw geese.) It kind of made my morning although the pessimist in me worried that it is a sign of some horrible environmental crises and that the family was probably doomed if they didn't find a safer thoroughfare.

Also, since I have declared myself the arbiter or acceptable vernacular, I think people shouldn't say cougar anymore. It has become pretty overused, and I think a bigger problem to the social scene of twentysomethings would be the male equivalent of cougars with their paunches, receding hairlines, and braided belts. Though, I guess, how would I know because I am thirtysomething and rarely ever go out to bars. I'm just sayin'.

And I watched twenty minutes of The Bachelorette on ABC last night... toxic.

Baa Baa Black Sheep

2008-05-30T05:30:00.001-05:00

Dexter likes to whistle while he works. Or I guess hum. Make sure you have some volume with this one.(PS- this one is a bit longer than usual. 2 minutes!)

2008-05-29T11:26:00.002-05:00

When will we have some warm weather? Dexter is ready to shed the Elmo jacket.
Dexter, Martha, and I had fun at the Beverly Memorial Day parade...
Well, at least Dexter did until he sacked out in the wagon.

Dex experiences a new emotion...

2008-05-22T10:52:00.002-05:00

irritation.

So the "Lil' Angels" came to daycare last week to put the kids in costume and take their picture. While the picture is pretty cute (albeit extremely cheesy), I don't think Little Man was terribly happy about the whole thing...

What do you think?

2008-05-19T16:37:00.002-05:00

The end of the school year has been crazy as usual so I have nothing inspired to say, but I promised my world travelin' mother that I'd post some pics of the kid.

Fun in the woods

2008-05-13T11:35:00.004-05:00

We spent this weekend in Michigan. Saturday was a gorgeous day. Dexter discovered the joys of throwing sticks and rocks into water.

We didn't get to do much else the rest of the day.

Also, he likes to climb at his Gram's house as much as at home.

Pizza +

2008-05-12T14:35:00.003-05:00

I am lucky to have so much family that lives close by. Most Wednesday nights many of us meet at Pizza Plus to hang out. Last week it was my Aunt Maria's birthday so the attendance was high. As usual, the camera generally comes out. Dexter is beginning his career as a video game addict.

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T06:04:00.001-05:00

To my mom, Jane...(I miss you already, but have fun on your trip!)

and Joel's mom, Martha...

and Grandma Welch...

and Mary Barr...

And for the Grandmas who can't be with us but we think of always...
Grandma Strong

and Joel's Grandma McGavic...(BTW, I have almost the exact same picture of me on a donkey with a swarthy/handsome Greek man.)

and Joel's Grandma Barr...

We love you all!

2008-05-02T06:04:00.002-05:00

So we've been having more backyard fun lately.

We've added to the backyard plastic collection. It's kind of a three ring circus. And getting this backyard toddler swing was like finding the Holy Grail.

But of course, who had more fun with the box than the swingset?

Slide and thank you...

2008-04-24T06:01:00.001-05:00

This may bore everyone but the grandparents, but you see his new tricks and hear a "Thank You" when I hand him the bubbles. This is groundbreaking stuff in the backyard people.

Darling...

2008-04-23T16:19:00.001-05:00

I don't have time for your foolish airplanes and choo choo trains. Just feed me my organic soy latte flavored yogurt already.

WARNING: This post is NSFW (not safe for work)

2008-04-21T20:14:00.002-05:00

There is a little bit of nudity...

I am warning you...

Catching up...

2008-04-13T17:00:00.003-05:00

Well, I haven't posted much of the little guy in two whole weeks so you're going to be inundated today. Last weekend we went to visit my mom at the farm. Dex loved it and ran wild. You can tell by the scars...

Today he came down with a fever so we've just been snuggling on the couch most of the day. I hate to see him hurting and wish I could make him feel better, but I also don't mind that he is sitting still on my lap and just wants to be held.

Do you know that so many movies and programs aimed at little babies feature snippets of the song Blue Danube? I didn't either until that became the first song Dex could hum. One day a few months ago he was sitting playing with a toy and started humming nonsensical things to himself. Except it was not nonsensical; it was Strauss. I began trying to track down the source. Where could he have learned this song? Turns out multiple places... It is on a CD they play for him at nap time at daycare, it is prominently featured on two (I think) Baby Einsteins...Baby Neptune and Baby Bach (or Van Gogh? Can't remember.) It's also on an Elmo short film that I have on my itunes and show him from time to time. It's kind of cool though. Now he wakes up in the morning singing it to himself.

The Mayor of Prospect Avenue

2008-04-13T15:15:00.001-05:00

Dexter rules the sidewalk!

2008-04-10T11:10:00.002-05:00

This shot is of me and Liza on my first day of pre-school. I remember most of my early childhood events by the outfit I wore. It is easy to tell this is not the first day of kindergarten because then I would be wearing the green Crayola dress with the matching crayon box purse and book bag. It is important for a lady to accessorize.

2008-03-28T14:21:00.002-05:00

I don't remember feeling this happy that it is Friday in a very long time. We're just going to be hanging around this weekend. (Sorry... couldn't help the lame pun.) Have fun.

Insomnia

2008-03-27T13:49:00.003-05:00

Things have been frustrating at work and it has been keeping me up at night. I toss and turn because I really hate confrontation. Last night Dexter also woke up in the middle of the night. There is nothing like a baby's hug and a cuddle as you rock him to sleep to get a little perspective. Plus lately, the middle of the night is about the only time he ever stands still.

Friday Night Jam Session...

2008-03-25T21:09:00.003-05:00

Check out Rory in her dress up clothes in the background. Everything's better with wigs.

Back to work...

2008-03-24T20:10:00.000-05:00

2008-03-17T21:13:00.003-05:00

I'm on vacation and sitting here with Joel. He's watching The Bourne Ultimatum, which stars one of my favorite older hotties, David Strathairn. We've been having tons of fun so far. Dexter is pretty content just to play catch with a balloon all day. So he has a whole toy box full of toys when a .99 cent trip to The Party Store would have sufficed. The Easter Bunny might bring a few more balloons, a cardboard tube from the inside of a paper towel roll, and a little mini broom and dust pan and call it a day. Dex should be in heaven. Last week he added the words "Bye, Bye" and "Thank You" to his repertoire. Needless to say Joel and I are hard at work prepping the early admission applications to Harvard.

A year ago on St. Patrick's Day weekend this is what the Little Man and I were doing. It is crazy how fast this year has gone by. I can't believe how much he seems like a little man already.

Orchids Part II

2008-03-05T19:03:00.003-06:00

My mom's pictures are even better...

Orchids by Hausermann Part I

2008-03-01T18:21:00.004-06:00

Today Dex, my mom, Jen and I spent the morning at Orchids by Hausermann. This is only part one because I think my mom's pictures are way better than mine so I'll probably post those too. First, it was nice to spend this morning in a greenhouse to get my spring fix. (The ten degree weather coming on Thursday certainly won't grant me that.)

So behold: Some pretty orchids--

Little man...roaming down the ailes like he owns the place...

What kind of plant is this? I assume cactus, but what kind? I must know. Google searches of dreadlock cactus were not successful

And although he was an angel all day, Dex got into lots of trouble at home.

2008-02-27T20:59:00.003-06:00

Things I used to say/ spell wrong for longer than I should have...

Seasonal Affectation disorder*
Buisness
Fornification

*But I kind of think seasonal affectation disorder is way more fun. Like if you just walked around with a fake British accent all winter?

Also, I've been reading Carol Goodman lately. She's a sort of literary mystery writer. I think you can spot the plot twists, but she uses a lot of fun motifs (fairy tales, Latin, stained glass) in her novels.

I hope to go see The Other Boleyn Girl this weekend. I really liked the book. At first I was irritated by their casting choice, then I realized I got the actresses playing the sisters mixed up. I think Natalie Portman is the right choice for Anne Boleyn. Their is something about Scarlet Johansen that kind of bugs. (But I don't like Kathryn Heigl either. It isn't a blonde thing, but I can't figure out why.)

And! It's Pulaski day on Monday! That great Revolutionary hero and friend to GW. I'll gladly toast you with sausage and beer as I enjoy yet another three day weekend!

Happy Birthday Liza!

2008-02-19T11:09:00.001-06:00

Child labor laws???

2008-02-18T20:40:00.004-06:00

Pshaw... we start 'em early around these parts. I have to train him to be a good little husband someday.

P.S. This is post number 300! So those of you complaining about the dearth of posts... that is a little more than 100 per year. Plus, do you really think my comic gems come so easily? I have to work a little at being this witty.

The Dorko Family

2008-02-13T20:58:00.003-06:00

I haven't written much lately because life here is kind of boring. We keep getting snowed in. What else is there to do but try on hats and torture your child with photos?

First PB&J

2008-02-03T19:41:00.001-06:00

This has been a really relaxing weekend at home. We had some friends over Friday and went sledding on Saturday. Sunday we didn't watch the Superbowl. All around... a wonderful weekend.

The Philadelphia Story

2008-01-29T14:45:00.000-06:00

Last night Joel and I watched The Philadelphia Story. I had never seen it before and I really enjoyed it. The thing is, while it was fine for Tracy to end up with Dexter, I kind of prefer the bookish, quick-to-judge, sensitive Macaulay. What do you think? Cary Grant? Jimmy Stewart?

Like father like son...

2008-01-22T20:39:00.000-06:00

Bucket Head

2008-01-13T19:35:00.001-06:00

Kiddo's kind of strange.

First Haircut

2008-01-13T19:15:00.000-06:00

Little Man had his first hair cut yesterday. Mainly as a futile attempt to tame his perpetual bed head. We went to a place that specializes in haircuts for kids. He could pick out a movie to watch while the stylist worked, and older kids could even choose to play a video game. (Check out the other stylist in the background of the third picture.) I am torn about this place, frankly. It was great for his first hair cut for sure. There was no crying and screaming as a strange woman approached him with sharp objects. (From me or from Dex.) Still, isn't the fact that we never have to make our kids sit still part of the reason why they can't? It seems like one of those things that causes ADD. Still, he looks so grown up with his new cut. They also saved a lock of his hair for me. This is another thing I am not sure of. Is keeping hair as a souvenir kind of weird? I suppose I'll be able to sell it on Ebay when he becomes a Nobel Laureate.

2008-01-08T20:57:00.000-06:00

Dashing Dex just wasn't in the mood to deal with the Paparazzi (Mamarazzo) today.

2008-01-06T19:47:00.000-06:00

We're runnin' through Cheerios here as if they're going out of style.

Snowed in!

2008-01-02T06:41:00.000-06:00

Well, we stayed in Michigan a night longer than planned because once we tried to venture out, the roads were just too bad. Joel's Dad was nice enough to welcome us back, but before that we spent a fun few days with Joel's Mom.

The smoothie monster...

2007-12-18T21:03:00.000-06:00

(The main thing you can see is this picture is that I have no vanity. Why do I keep posting these hideous pictures of myself?)

Dexter's feeling better and has his appetite back. So much so that I can't feed him fast enough so sometimes he has to take matters into his own hands. He loved the Smoothie. (Or he's reenacting a lost scene from Lord of the Flies. You decide.)

2007-12-16T19:01:00.001-06:00

My mom taught Dexter to share his Cheerios. It's pretty funny when he feeds them to you, but just as often he goes to put it in your mouth and then takes it away at the last second. Pretty much he is the cutest kid ever. I used to be embarrassed to say things like that. But doesn't every kid deserve to have his parents think he is the cutest baby in the world? (I'm just the only parent that is right. Haha.)

Hangin' out on a Sunday Morning

2007-12-16T11:05:00.001-06:00

One of my recent obsessions...

2007-12-12T14:22:00.000-06:00

Have you been on Etsy? It is a marketplace for people who make crafts. The prices are reasonable, and so far the vendors I have dealt with are nice. I am trying to do as much Christmas shopping there as possible because the idea of buying handmade gifts rather than plastic gadgets manufactured in China follows my current economic/ environmental sensibilities. (Still, if you really wanted to send an iPod Touch my way it isn't like I'd turn it down. Music IS my boyfriend.) So don't be surprised if you unwrap a gift from me and find this, this, or this. (OK... two of those were kind of a joke... but there really are some great things on the sight .)

Sickos

2007-12-11T11:16:00.000-06:00

Dexter and I have been home sick. We had a very nice party this weekend with all of his grandparents, some of his aunties, and our neighbors. Still, the Little Man just wasn't his normal, funny self. He stuck one finger in his cake and then shoved it aside. He did love having a room full of people sing "Happy Birthday" to him.
Look at those gorgeous sickies! We both woke up feeling pretty cranky and sick on Sunday. I broke a lot of my rules about how much Little Einstein and Sesame Street I'd let him watch in a day as I laid on the couch, moaning. Mostly we just cuddled and tried to feel better.

2007-12-07T16:31:00.000-06:00

I never had that magical movie moment when right after giving birth, the nurse hands you a pretty pink baby and you all sit there, glowing, looking at each other with a gentle tear running down your face. For me… it wasn’t love-at-first-sight. It was visceral-need-to-protect-at-any-cost,-perhaps-even violently, at first sight. I remember laying there begging, for water, as the nurse measured and administered to Dexter. At some point through the haze I picked up on a note of concern in her voice. Soon they told me Baby Boy Barr would have to go to the special care nursery because he had low glucose levels. I got to hold him for a minute and I was just scared. I worried for him, but didn’t really understand what was wrong, and couldn’t really think clearly. The next forty-eight hours were pretty surreal. Each time Joel rolled me down to the NICU, I would cry. My emotions ranged from the frantic need to fight some unspeakable battle to take care of this little one, to complete vulnerability because this was a situation no one could control. Of course, Dex ended up being fine. He was slow to eat, perhaps because of the bruise on his head, and consequently he had low blood sugar. We were so lucky, and he is a strong kid. Mostly I mention that because those first few hours were nothing like my expectation of that love at first sight I’d seen in countless films.

What I have experienced is more of a gradual change from curiosity and concern to hopeless, unabashed love for my little man. I feel deliriously lucky and happy to have spent this last year getting to know him. He smiled and laughed pretty early and hasn’t stopped since. I am surprised at how many personality traits already seem to have emerged. Dex is a class clown. He loves to do things that make people laugh and if you oblige him, he’ll keep going for the laugh. Also, much to Joel’s joy, he is a drummer. He bangs on everything with his tiny little hands, or with the remote controls as drumsticks. I love every part of being his mom. Happy birthday Little Man.

Afternoon Snacktime

2007-12-04T18:02:00.000-06:00

Joel and Dex like their hummus. Don't get in the way.

2007-11-26T19:27:00.000-06:00

Hey! How was your Thanksgiving? (I ALMOST wrote Turkey Day... that is one of the things that embarrasses me about myself. Yes. I am the kind of person who sometimes says things like Turkey Day. Also, sometimes, at the end of the week if I am talking to work people I don't know very well I say something like, "Hey at least it's Friday." NERD!)

After an initial hiccup, our break was great. The traffic Wednesday was horrible. Joel and I were not filled with much gratitude as we navigated the Illinois Toll roads on our way out to Wisconsin.

Thursday morning we drove the rest of the way to Minneapolis to stay with Joel's step-brother and family. It was so relaxing. I avoided Black Friday, but am going to sign off now to take advantage of the free shipping of "Cyber Monday".

2007-11-19T19:09:00.001-06:00

I am sick with Bronchitis...and seemed to have coughed out any creative ideas I have. In the meantime, here is a picture of the CBE.

The second time's the charm...

2007-11-14T14:57:00.000-06:00

Finally! I found out a few days ago that I achieved National Board Certification. Mostly I am just relieved to be done, and that I will get more money soon. One side bonus is that my teaching certificate is no longer called "Type 9". Instead I am an Illinois Master Teacher. That has a much better ring to it, but don't feel like you have to call me Master Barr. But if you insist...

You must be smelly and constipated...

2007-11-11T21:01:00.001-06:00

because there are a lot of scientists and engineers making amazing advancements in pro-biotic yogurt that "helps with digestion" wink, wink, and don't get me started on Glade! Thank goodness I can get air freshening night lights and plug-ins that let in puffs of air!

2007-11-11T18:01:00.000-06:00

2007-11-11T17:47:00.000-06:00

Joel says I should stop playing dress up with the baby. When he brought it up the other day I summarized some of the finer points of labor with him. (He did SLEEP for part of it so I think he just needed a refresher.) I didn't have the world's worst labor, but it was still "labor". Thirteen hours of it = a minimum of 13 years of dressing him up in funny hats, right?

Pelmo, my stepdad, will probably also have something to say about the hats. But I think that is because he is only familiar with the big, white, cone-shaped hats you have to wear in a corner.

Walking baby!

2007-11-05T21:55:00.001-06:00

Speedy Dexaroo!

2007-10-28T14:07:00.001-05:00

Dex (mostly) manages to navigate the rough terrain of Chicago sidewalks.

Happy Birthday Rory Pants...

2007-10-23T17:16:00.001-05:00

I hope you have so much fun and...

I will ALWAYS be your aunt.

Love,
Nora

2007-10-18T19:35:00.000-05:00

Promise me that we'll never have to touch base to make sure we're on the same page about taking our connectivity to the next level?

Thanks.

2007-10-16T19:58:00.000-05:00

Little Man is doing very well. His parents, on the other hand, have issues. We spent a wonderful weekend in Michigan, with a few glitches. The major one being that all of LM's bags (food, formula, medicine, diapers, clothes) got left behind. Chesterton Big K to the rescue. I guess we can prioritize because we remembered his toys.

Look at my blue eyed guys.

We had a great walk in the woods on Saturday afternoon.

Mostly I am just enjoying watching LM's personality evolve. All of a sudden he has a sense of humor. He likes to make people laugh. If he makes one of us giggle with something that he does, he'll keep doing it, and his whole body will shake with laughter. Most of this is getting lost in translation, so you're just going to have to visit and be entertained by the comedic stylings of DHB. (I am kicking around the possibility of keeping Little Man's name out of my blog... it is tedious, but maybe he deserves his privacy? Of course, I'll have to go back and do a lot of changing in entries over the last year so maybe not.)

2007-10-14T20:11:00.001-05:00

What's Up?

Upward Mobility

2007-10-08T15:45:00.000-05:00

So Little Man is climbing all over the place. He's able to climb up an entire flight of stairs. (Closely supervised of course.) See that look in his eyes? That is a boy who has movement on two legs in his near future.

2007-09-30T09:11:00.000-05:00

Last night Joel and I got to go out with some friends. We had a great time with some of our new neighborhood friends. We owe our relaxing night to my Aunt Colleen. It sounds like Dexter had fun too.

How Big is Dexter????

2007-09-25T03:25:00.001-05:00

So Big!

Yay!!!

Thanks to Grandma Jane for the pictures.
(And it looks like the September insomnia continues. Or I guess, if you go to bed at 8 and then you just wake up at 3...is it insomnia? Probably not.)

Counting down the days until his mom stops playing dress up with him...

2007-09-23T19:41:00.001-05:00

2007-09-23T18:22:00.000-05:00

I kind of need a life. What do I do on a Saturday night? Entertain myself and others by downloading soundtracks to Dexter's life on Rhapsody.

(Sorry it is kind of grainy.)
School is still kicking my butt. I have to occasionally remind myself of my priorities at home. Plus I am cranky and not terribly creative.

Is Dexter trying to escape his crazy mommy?