The last few weeks a lot of opportunities have come our way. We have learned the hard way to take a good look at what we want for now, what we want for later, and what our goals are. But so many of these opportunities seem like bubbles. They are floating, they are pretty, but who knows where they will land and if they will pop in the process. Some of them are very big bubbles, and those are the most exciting, and some are small, and don't last very long. Some might break deals we had made with each other, some may become new deals. And the hardest part, most are not developed enough to even share with others who could offer discernment and advice. They are just bubbles that we get to watch...We are in a good place either way with most of them, but some could offer some significant changes for us. The timing is incredible, it seems that every bubble has started floating in the last couple of weeks, and it is fun too, to see where they all might land if they do land. And if they don't, we are mostly good with that too.
One of those bubbles that has developed and should not pop is the new car we are going to pick up tomorrow. We have known for some time that a tiny 3-door Saturn Coupe and a small not-so-great-in-Winter Toyota Tacoma would not fit us as a family. The fact is, when we bought those cars, 10 and 8 years ago respectively, they served just the purpose we needed then. Who thinks about buying a family car right out of college? Now that our family has grown (and hopefully will continue to grow), we need something that we fit in, and maybe a fourth person as well. So, we gave in, found an interest rate that is great, got a loan, set up a trade-in of the Toyota, and will drive home our Subaru Forester tomorrow. It is blue!
In other news, we are struggling with the sippy cup situation. We know we need to transition Slane to a sippy cup. We already have her on milk, and completely off of formula, but we need to get her off of the bottle. She is strange. She will drink water out of her Avent sippy, but not milk. Some people suggested different kinds of cups. I tried Nuk the other day. It worked great, I bought a second one (those are pricey). Then Slane started throwing things when she is done with them. When a Nuk sippy hits the floor with force, the nipple pops out and milk goes everywhere. We can deal with that at home on a linoleum floor, but when we are out to eat, it is kind of a problem. I bought a Playtex yesterday, and she would't drink out of it. I don't want to buy many different kinds that won't work. What do we do? It is harder because she still does the bottle at daycare. I guess we will have to wait until summer to fight that battle, and then I can be home all day and deal with that.
In other other news, Slane is walking everywhere now, and it is kind of nice to walk in the door at daycare and she walks up and says hello. Speaking of daycare, I love the boys there. They love Slane and Monday actually opened the window of the room they were in and yelled their goodbye's to her out of the window. When she goes in the morning, she gets a big hug from one of the boys who says he loves her. When I pick her up, one boy always says, "Baby mom here, baby mom here!"
Stay tuned, and when the next bubble lands, we'll let you know.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Stop talking already, just show us pictures
We are a bit behind. So, here are pictures starting in January. The next post will have a few more.
Ella, our niece was baptized on Valentine's Day. My mom made this dress.
Slane drives her car through the kitchen.
Q and I traded rooms with Slane. Ema and Epa helped (Epa got nap duty).
Slane is happy about eating.
Ella, our niece was baptized on Valentine's Day. My mom made this dress.
Slane drives her car through the kitchen.
Q and I traded rooms with Slane. Ema and Epa helped (Epa got nap duty).
Slane is happy about eating.
Slane plays with balloons at the Hope/Calvin game, which Hope won!!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Bye, G'Bye!!!
No, we aren't going anywhere just yet.
Slane and I got to spend a lot of time together during my 5 day weekend "spring break." We explored new places, and we got lots of appointments taken care of. On Thursday, Q took a vacation day and we ran a few errands (like dropping off the $150 our friends and family donated to Mid-Iowa Community Action in Slane's name), picked up coffee, and deposited a few checks and some of Slane's birthday money. Then we headed to Des Moines for lunch with Aunt Brenda and a visit to the Science Center. We played in the toddler area, and watched a cool black hole presentation. We checked out the turtles and snakes and prairie soil samples, and then headed to a mall to pick up some walking shoes for Slane (Pedipeds are our new favorite shoes). We rushed back home and made it to the Maundy Thursday Service, which Slane decided to talk through. Q eventually took her out to the fellowship hall so she didn't disrupt the service.
Friday, we did taxes and got a haircut. Saturday we cleaned out closets. Sunday the whole family came over for Easter and the ladies went to the park to swing and slide and the guys got in a round of disc golf.
Monday, Slane hung out in her stroller while I got a cavity filled, and then she napped and I graded my sixth graders projects that have been waiting for a few weeks. We met Q at the doctor's office for Slane's 1 year wellness check later in the afternoon. She weighed in at 23 pounds and a few ounces, and 30 inches tall. She got a clean bill of health, though we need to feed her more protein and iron.
It was cold and rainy in the afternoon, and we needed an activity. Slane wanted to play upstairs, so I put a movie in and played with her. We watched The Sound of Music. Slane loved the singing (of course), and at end, when the Von Trapp family singers are singing So Long, Farewell for the last time, Slane got the message, and said, "bye, g'bye!?!?!" It always sounds like a question when she says it, but an excited question.
And then, that quickly, my weekend was over and I got to go back to school.
Slane and I got to spend a lot of time together during my 5 day weekend "spring break." We explored new places, and we got lots of appointments taken care of. On Thursday, Q took a vacation day and we ran a few errands (like dropping off the $150 our friends and family donated to Mid-Iowa Community Action in Slane's name), picked up coffee, and deposited a few checks and some of Slane's birthday money. Then we headed to Des Moines for lunch with Aunt Brenda and a visit to the Science Center. We played in the toddler area, and watched a cool black hole presentation. We checked out the turtles and snakes and prairie soil samples, and then headed to a mall to pick up some walking shoes for Slane (Pedipeds are our new favorite shoes). We rushed back home and made it to the Maundy Thursday Service, which Slane decided to talk through. Q eventually took her out to the fellowship hall so she didn't disrupt the service.
Friday, we did taxes and got a haircut. Saturday we cleaned out closets. Sunday the whole family came over for Easter and the ladies went to the park to swing and slide and the guys got in a round of disc golf.
Monday, Slane hung out in her stroller while I got a cavity filled, and then she napped and I graded my sixth graders projects that have been waiting for a few weeks. We met Q at the doctor's office for Slane's 1 year wellness check later in the afternoon. She weighed in at 23 pounds and a few ounces, and 30 inches tall. She got a clean bill of health, though we need to feed her more protein and iron.
It was cold and rainy in the afternoon, and we needed an activity. Slane wanted to play upstairs, so I put a movie in and played with her. We watched The Sound of Music. Slane loved the singing (of course), and at end, when the Von Trapp family singers are singing So Long, Farewell for the last time, Slane got the message, and said, "bye, g'bye!?!?!" It always sounds like a question when she says it, but an excited question.
And then, that quickly, my weekend was over and I got to go back to school.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
a year
Last week Slane turned one. Every day, I can't help but find myself thinking, "a year ago, this was happening. Remember coming home from the hospital, and the stress that was Slane's first two months?" Slane was not gaining weight, and that was very scary. It seemed like we were not as worried as the doctors, and I was constantly questioning my ability to take care of my kid. I couldn't feed her enough, and it became more stressful because we could not afford formula or a breast pump, and I NEEDED to be able to breast feed her because it seemed like the only choice. We depended on piano lesson money, because that was our grocery money.
We couldn't afford a different place to live (still not sure what to do there, another subject for a different day), finding a car to fit us was not an option (though we aren't all about taking on car payments), and I did not get a maternity break (sometimes I feel like I missed out on valuable bonding time). We weren't sure what was next. Then, I got a full-time job (totally unexpected), and Slane gained weight and is very happy and healthy, and we are make the car situation work (though I was rethinking that last night when I was trying to get the jogging stroller in the trunk). We are looking for a rental house, but those are hard to come by in Grinnell. We are hopeful about that working out for us.
Things still feel up in the air, in spite of being in a better place financially. We are feeling restless, and are just waiting for the next step to show itself. It seems like we should be doing more with ourselves, and though we love being where we are, and most of our current situation, we are as wiggly as Slane is during church. So, now most of our decisions have been put on hold because we just don't know what to do with ourselves next.
In the meantime, we have a beautiful, robust, happy, smart little girl. She is almost walking, she has been working on her top teeth for a couple of weeks, and she is growing out of most of her winter clothes. She draws attention wherever she goes, and loves to play. She is a joy to be around.
A year ago we were getting to know our tiny baby, and living in our pajamas. Now, we are getting to know our almost toddler, and not living in our pajamas (we wear actual clothes to work, our coworkers would find the pajamas a bit strange).
We couldn't afford a different place to live (still not sure what to do there, another subject for a different day), finding a car to fit us was not an option (though we aren't all about taking on car payments), and I did not get a maternity break (sometimes I feel like I missed out on valuable bonding time). We weren't sure what was next. Then, I got a full-time job (totally unexpected), and Slane gained weight and is very happy and healthy, and we are make the car situation work (though I was rethinking that last night when I was trying to get the jogging stroller in the trunk). We are looking for a rental house, but those are hard to come by in Grinnell. We are hopeful about that working out for us.
Things still feel up in the air, in spite of being in a better place financially. We are feeling restless, and are just waiting for the next step to show itself. It seems like we should be doing more with ourselves, and though we love being where we are, and most of our current situation, we are as wiggly as Slane is during church. So, now most of our decisions have been put on hold because we just don't know what to do with ourselves next.
In the meantime, we have a beautiful, robust, happy, smart little girl. She is almost walking, she has been working on her top teeth for a couple of weeks, and she is growing out of most of her winter clothes. She draws attention wherever she goes, and loves to play. She is a joy to be around.
A year ago we were getting to know our tiny baby, and living in our pajamas. Now, we are getting to know our almost toddler, and not living in our pajamas (we wear actual clothes to work, our coworkers would find the pajamas a bit strange).
Friday, March 19, 2010
eating with the angels
This morning I saw a beautiful sunrise. Yesterday, I saw an even better one. The sun was shining through the fog, and it was pink and floaty and then got more and more orange as I traveled. The benefit of a morning commute at sunrise is the peacefulness that it offers over the terrain. It certainly has calmed my spirits lately. Our week had a rough start, and the nice spring weather has definitely helped soften the situation.
Often, if I don't get a chance to enjoy breakfast at home, or forget to get the coffee pot ready, I stop in at the local coffee shop. They know me well enough not that they usually have my coffee poured by the time I get up to the counter. And if my favorite scone is not out yet, they go to the back room and get me one (thanks, Pat, you're the best!). I often see the same people there in the mornings. I see the music and history professors mulling over whatever it is that they mull over. On Thursdays, I see the Bible study group going at it, and frequently see the Arabic professor at the college.
Now, she LOVES Slane. Whenever we see her at campus events she gravitates toward Slane and insists on holding her and exclaims over how big Slane is and how grown up she is getting. So, this morning she asked why Slane wasn't with me. She is sleeping, I said, and having good dreams. She was smiling in her sleep when I left. "She is eating with the angels. That is what they say at home. They believe babies are angels themselves and she is enjoying herself."
It kinds of matches the sunrise this morning.
Often, if I don't get a chance to enjoy breakfast at home, or forget to get the coffee pot ready, I stop in at the local coffee shop. They know me well enough not that they usually have my coffee poured by the time I get up to the counter. And if my favorite scone is not out yet, they go to the back room and get me one (thanks, Pat, you're the best!). I often see the same people there in the mornings. I see the music and history professors mulling over whatever it is that they mull over. On Thursdays, I see the Bible study group going at it, and frequently see the Arabic professor at the college.
Now, she LOVES Slane. Whenever we see her at campus events she gravitates toward Slane and insists on holding her and exclaims over how big Slane is and how grown up she is getting. So, this morning she asked why Slane wasn't with me. She is sleeping, I said, and having good dreams. She was smiling in her sleep when I left. "She is eating with the angels. That is what they say at home. They believe babies are angels themselves and she is enjoying herself."
It kinds of matches the sunrise this morning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)