Meeting Maslow

Domestic Science

2010-05-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

I already love the blog Remodelista - but I just found another reason to love them even more. They have an index page called domestic science for all of those very cool, but hard to find household items that make the work of keeping the home up a little easier and more pleasant (and it doesn't hurt that they are really nice to look at, too). Check it out.

However, my all time favorite source for simple, inexpensive and useful tools for around the house is Lehman's. I bought my very first iron skillet from them, and now I am eyeing their clothesline supplies.

Belly

2010-05-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

I haven't done a very good job of documenting this pregnancy - for example, I have two ultrasound images, one at 6 weeks and the other at 17 weeks, that I should have already scanned and posted. I'll get there - but for now, here's a belly shot - 27 weeks.

Cleaning Green

2010-05-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to eliminate the number, type, and toxicity of chemicals that we use for cleaning at home. The toxicity of conventional cleaners and the cost ($$$) of pre-made natural cleaners has led me on a search for inexpensive and non-toxic basic ingredients. Doing tons of diaper laundry actually started me on this kick. Figuring out what I can and can't use to wash the diapers has shown me how many additives and unecessary chemicals we use in our homes.

This is a list of non-toxic cleaners that I have found that can pretty much do every job in the house:

Country Save laundry detergent (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this stuff - cheap and effective)
Borax (disinfecting the laundry, cleaning the toilet etc..)
Baking soda (for scrubbing, a great laundry additive)
Vinegar (also a great disinfectant, this stuff does almost everything - see here)
Dr. Bronners soap

The three conventional cleaners that we still use are Clorox bleach every now and then (trying to find a good oxygen cleaner that doesn't have detergent in it like Oxyclean, though the Borax might do the trick), Comet cleaner (I have a hard time giving this one up, even though the powder cloud it creates is awful), and disinfecting wipes (here, I'm just finishing up the last of the container).

I'd like to eventually work some essential oils into the spray bottles of cleaner that I mix up. I saw a great tip the other day on how to use fresh basil, but my little basil plant out in the front hasn't grown enough for me to start using its leaves. So far, our new system has worked out well.

Two things that I like - a lot.

2010-05-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

and

from here and here. (Note: The price of the shoes is actually lower in USD, yay!)

Teepee and Other Misc. Projects

2010-04-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

Making one of these is on my list of sewing projects for the boys. Doesn't that look like a fun place to play?

It looks simple enough, I just need to figure out the most cost effective fabric to use - painter's drop cloths, burlap yardage, thrift store sheets? Where to get the bamboo poles?

Lately, I've been thinking about lots of projects that I'd like to get started- however, plans for them invade my mind right when I'm getting ready for bed and then into the middle of the night. Having crafty ideas is really fun, I just wish the inspiration wouldn't strike when I should be sleeping.

Some other projects keeping me up at night include: contouring a bunch of prefolds for the new baby, putting together a night diaper stash for Oliver (the BG 3.0s are leaking on us), replacing all the velcro tabs on our stash of BG's (Cotton Babies sent me 24 kits for free!), making a compost bin, spreading grass seed in the back yard, building some small beds in the front yard and transplanting a few plants, finishing up the hook rack in the laundry room, cleaning out the area under the stairs and making a play area out of it for the kids, installing safety latches on all the cabinets, and culling through and simplifying all of the household chemicals. Whew!

After going to bed last night at 10:00, I think I finally fell asleep around midnight. Perhaps this is why I'm blogging about my list of projects - if I get it all written down, hopefully I won't have to go through it in my head every evening. We'll see....

photo from here.

Cowboy

2010-04-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

Oliver is really into riding his stick horse. The only thing missing is his hat. He loves hats too.

Oliver's Maiden Wagon Voyage

2010-04-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

He LOVES the wagon, passed down from his big sister Quinn. Looking forward to many, many trips through the neighborhood in it.

Bunk Beds

2010-04-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

Even though it will be a few years before we will need these, this is what I have in mind for the boys' room. Bunk beds that we can separate early on and then stack later as they get older. Great price, which will leave some for the bedspreads that I have in mind from Utility Canvas. Beds from here.

Kill Your TV

2010-04-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

Of course I have a running list of things for the house come payday. This is now at the top. Things I aspire to -

from here.

Take-Out Lids

2010-04-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

Package design is pretty interesting - especially drink lids. I've always wondered who designs those things. I think it comes from wanting to push in all the little bubbles on my soda lid as a kid - you know the ones that indicate diet, root beer or other, etc...

from here.

Ikea Rugs and Nesting

2010-04-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about rugs lately - our living room really needs something other than that sad little brown rug. I have that nesting thing going on where I spend way too much energy making plans for the house in my head. I'm convinced that nesting is a mechanism to remove annoyances since I'm kinda touchy lately. For example, I have been compulsively straightening the house, being a maniac about the laundry, wiping down baseboards (????) and making sure the paper towel roll is always on the holder which is actually a big pain. Normally, I would let all of these things go (and more). I feel driven to do it, because if I didn't it would drive me nuts and it's all because I'm pregnant. That's my theory anyway...

So, back to the rugs - that first one would go by the couch. The second in the front music room and the last I'd put in the boys' (plural!) room. Love those stripes.

1) Alvine Ruta 2) Jorun 3) Stockholm Rand

Au-Jardin Poster

2010-04-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Someone should snap up this cute poster for their kitchen - here.

Playground

2010-04-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

Oliver is getting big enough to play on the playground with the older kids. It brought me so much joy to watch him run around and laugh with excitement at everything the playground had to offer. We all had a blast.

Oliver in the kitchen

2010-04-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

He loves to dump his sippy cup out when he can sneak in the chance. I decided this time to just go with the flow and let him play with the mess as long as it would keep his attention.

New Reality

2010-03-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

I took the day off early last Friday to pick up Oliver and head to the store for pot roast fixins. Jay was bringing Quinn home from school and this is her favorite dish of mine. I wanted to have something special for her on the first night she had with us that week. So as I was driving home down 6th street and Lamar I passed lots of old haunts and longingly watched the patrons enjoying their beers outside in the sunshine. I miss those old days of spending Friday afternoons at a long happy hour enjoying many (too many) pints. But then I looked in the rear view mirror and saw Oliver's pudgy little face smile back at me, so I got over it.

We made it in and out of Newflower with no problems. I scored lots of fruits and veggies on sale so I was super proud of myself for stretching our grocery budget a little bit more. But then, on a whim, I stopped by at Tuesday Morning to look for a bigger dutch oven. The one we have was a wedding gift - a smallish lime green Le Creuset that I love. It's just the smallish part that's the issue. We really need a bigger one. I was hoping to find a cheap Lodge cast iron dutch oven or something similar. Instead, they had the perfect grey 5.5 qt. Le Creuset marked down from $250 to $99. NINETY-NINE DOLLARS!!!! Oh man, in my pre-new house, new baby days I would have snapped that up. But with another one on the way and SO many other things taking priority, spending that $99 absolutely could not be justified. I think I shed a little tear - and of course instead of smiling, Oliver was tossing all of the nearby shelf items on the floor as fast as he could get his pudgy little hands on them.

I drove home feeling sad, but determined to make what we have work for our growing family.

Green Gate Farms

2010-03-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

Taking day trips with the kids is one of my goals this spring. I am inspired by the blog posts of other families like this one who have taken their kids out to dairies, farms and orchards to gather their own food. I want my children to have those experiences too - but really never took the time to search out local farms. Well, I just discovered Green Gate Farms yesterday online. They are out east of Austin by Decker Lake. Their farmstand opens this month - that sounds like a great first trip out to see the farm animals and get some fresh veggies.

Other places I would like to go include some urban farms in Austin like Boggy Creek Farm, the lavender fields near my parent's house in Dripping Springs and out to pick some peaches and blackberries near Fredericksburg. This guide lists some possibilities.

Know of any other great places to take kids to explore where their food comes from?

Update: Jay just told me about a place out near his parents' house in Bastrop where you can pick strawberries!

Love, love love love love

2010-03-10T07:54:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of regular clothes out there that would pass for maternity wear right now - that is until I am around 7 or 8 months along. Now that the weather is getting warmer, I really want to be wearing easy dresses/tunics and sandals. These two from here and here would be my first picks.

Duffle

2010-03-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

Spring gives me bag fever and this duffle is awesome (from here).

It is so beautiful today. It feels like ages since I have felt the sun on my skin and can breathe deeply and relax while outside. This winter has had me cooped up, wrapped up, shivering and tense.

I am so grateful for the cycling of the seasons.

Nursery

2010-03-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

I finally get a chance to decorate a nursery for Oliver and the new baby. I love this one from Remodelista. It pretty much has all of the elements of the one I've had in my head and is within our limited budget. I really like the simplicity of it, though I would probably paint the crib with grey milk paint and leave the changing table a natural wood color. I also love all of the storage baskets. The shelves and mobile are on my list.

This is Lovely

2010-02-26T18:26:00.000-08:00

"What sort of diary should I like mine to be? Something loose-knit and yet not slovenly, so elastic that it will embrace anything, solemn, slight or beautiful, that comes into my mind. I should like it to resemble some deep old desk or capacious hold-all, in which one flings a mass of odds and ends without looking them through. I should like to come back, after a year or two, and find that the collection had sorted itself and refined itself and coalesced, as such deposits so mysteriously do, into a mould, transparent enough to reflect the light of our life, and yet steady, tranquil compounds with the aloofness of a work of art. The main requisite, I think, on reading my old volumes, is not to play the part of a censor, but to write as the mood comes or of anything whatever; since I was curious to find how I went for things put in haphazard, and found the significance to lie where I never saw it at the time."

V. Woolf

read here.

Stroller Shopping

2010-02-22T14:24:00.000-08:00

We have yet to buy a stroller. Oliver is getting big enough and I am getting pregnant enough where I can't carry him everywhere, even in the Ergo. So, I've been shopping around online for something that we can use this summer with Oliver and later with the new baby when he/she is also too big to wear. So far, the Baby Jogger City Mini is my favorite option - it is reasonably priced (<$250), got great reviews and has lots of available accessories, including a glider board for Oliver to ride on. This solves the need for a true double stroller - I was dreading one of those, so that makes me very happy.

Remodelista: Utility Sinks

2010-02-12T13:34:00.000-08:00

I love Remodelista and this recent post about utility sinks as bathrooom sinks. I actually think the look is more institutional. Perhaps that's why it appeals to me so much - they remind me of all those years spent in school.

Post here.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-11T14:33:00.000-08:00

We plan to spend the day with the kids on Sunday and then go to an early movie and dinner on Monday afternoon. So, for Sunday I plan to do some baking and whatever else Quinn has in mind for the day (sushi?, Benihana?). We decided that spending time together was more important than gifts, but I just can't help loving all of the red hearts and frilly packaging for simple little things this time of year. I am especially a sucker for soaps in pretty paper, like these -

from here, here, and here.

So late, but still worth it.

2010-02-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

BEFORE

Oliver got his first haircut! He was a pro sitting quietly in the stylist's chair while she clipped away. There was a little bit of fussing when she sprayed water on his hair, but that's all. He was almost too serious - but look how good it turned out! I was very hesitant to cut his locks, hoping they would turn into cute thick curls, but instead he always had this frizzy bed-head look crusted over with whatever he ate for lunch. For now, I like seeing all of that sweet little face.

DURING

ALL DONE!

Now we're heading out to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa!

14 Months

2010-01-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

Oliver has made so many new accomplishments in the last month. He is now WALKING! It is just so cute to see him amble over to one of us for a hug or to go get a toy from the other side of the room. He especially likes to walk by himself from his classroom to the lobby of the daycare. Once there he seats himself at the table in one of the little blue chairs and plays with the trucks ('brrrm brrrm') until I say it's time to go home.

Other accomplishments include saying papa (meaning food), dada, mama, bye bye, night night (a sweet little high pitched 'nigh nigh', then blows kisses), bear (beh), ball (ba), and sister (si-tah). He is also particular about where things go. Like his water bottle -things aren't right until it is in the holder thingy that keeps it off the floor. I can see how he enjoys structure and repetition. Bedtime has started to become the exact same routine every night, mostly led by Oliver.

Oh, I can't wait to see what he does next. His personality is really starting to shine through and I love it - getting to know this little guy better everyday.

Carousel

2010-01-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

On New Years day, we braved the Houston Zoo. It was a free day, so the place was packed! My favorite part of the day was riding the carousel. Oliver didn't agree. See this skeptical face? Well, it turned to tears as soon as the ride started. Poor kiddo - I know he won't be afraid of riding a bobbing zebra forever.

11 weeks

2010-01-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

[Insert 6 week ultrasound photo here]

Well, that little bean post was about the status of Oliver and Quinn's youngest sibling. I'm pregnant again and am due in early August (I'm embarrassed to say that I can't quite remember whether the expected due date is the 6th or the 8th, but we all know that's just an estimate, right?).

I am excited and apprehensive about doing this a second time around. So far, I've been really queasy and exhausted. I am just starting to get some energy back and have had an urge to have everything around me organized. I'm really looking forward to nesting this time. We lived in a loft the first time and were planning to move a couple of weeks before Oliver was born, so I didn't get a chance to do any of that.

I just told a few coworkers today. It was nice to share - walking around feeling like a zombie with nobody the wiser isn't much fun. I am waiting until after my second OB appointment on Thursday to make an official announcement at work. I just want to hear the hearbeat one more time.

Mary Janes

2010-01-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

These shoes just came in the mail yesterday and they are now my all time favorite wear-with-everything shoes. I bought them a little big because I know my feet plan to swell to twice their size in the coming months ( I know, gross) - and I've sworn off heels for work. I've been wearing them with thick wool socks. I love looking down to see a stripey or argyle pattern peeking through. The best part - they were on super super sale. Yay!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted. I usually like to start with an image, especially since that's Quinn's only reason for reading this blog, but I didn't take many photos over the Christmas break and have yet to badger family members for theirs.

We went to Bastrop the day before Christmas Eve to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Kennedy. We spent most of Christmas Eve in the dark during a power outage caused by a fallen tree. Kindal gathered all of Judy's candles and put together an amazing collection of votive holders and hurricane lamps. The result was just beautiful. We spent that evening listening to Jay's guitar then ate dinner by candlelight. Quinn was very dissappointed at the turn of events, but her spirits brightened when the lights went back on halfway through dinner. We decided to open gifts that night and save the stockings and Santa gifts for morning time. My favorite memory of that night is of Oliver falling asleep holding his new little green tractor that Jay picked out for him.

Christmas Day we heading back home to swap gifts with Amy and say goodbye to Quinn, then went to my sister's house for Christmas dinner and more gifts. Audrey and Jaleck made a fabulous Middle Eastern meal of Maftoul (chicken with couscous) and Makhlubbi (upside down beef pie) with hummus, baba ghanoush, tabouleh, and dolmas. I hope that will become a tradition - it was a nice break from the traditional holiday fare. However, we did bring along the Christmas sugar cookies decorated by Jay and Quinn. Those were tasty too.

We are now digging out from under the piles of boxes and bags of gifts that we brought home and have yet to assemble Oliver's train table or put up the Christmas tree - but I'm kind of enjoying the mess. It reminds me of what a good time we had this year.

Little Bean

2009-12-16T15:13:00.000-08:00

6w3d 123bpm. That is all for now.

image from here

PUNJAMMIES

2009-12-11T13:30:00.001-08:00

To heck with making my own jammie pants - from here.

This is for Quinn

2009-12-09T19:32:00.001-08:00

Quinn's been wanting to know when I'm going to start posting 'real' stuff - like photos and such. Enough with this wish list mumbo jumbo. I really do have more to post. But for now, here's Oliver helping Dada plant a tree.

Gifts for Jay

2009-12-09T15:18:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of some things that I think he'd like:

1) Some retro headphones

2) Cool pendant lights.

3) Where the Wild Things Are Soundtrack (and some other music)

4) Bubble Scrubber - why not make doing the dishes more fun?

5) Recycled tape tie - you can actually play it, check them out.

5) Bill Viola museum banner (or Jasper Johns or Chuck Close )

I LIED

2009-12-09T12:09:00.001-08:00

I love these too:

Cook Book (Actually, any cookbook)

Studded Satchel

Gift List

2009-12-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

Seems like every other blog is getting into posting about gift lists - so I thought I'd do one too, for me. I know, most lists are ideas for other people.... I'll do one for Jay next.

1) A hat like this one (from here). Doesn't that look cozy?

2) Gardening Tools

3) A warm wool blanket like this or this . (Isn't this one just amazing?)

4) Waffle Iron (skip Williams Sonoma - one from here.)

5) Grey Gardens DVD Set

6) A reading light (I've always wanted an excuse to order from SkyMall).

7) A hanging planter. This shop is just lovely.

What's on your list?

Lagging Behind

2009-12-04T09:39:00.001-08:00

I've got lots of stuff to post, from birthday party videos to Thanksgiving photos, but the internet connection on my computer in the kitchen (which is the only place I can get online and still get other stuff done simultaneously) is currently down. The new wireless USB thingymajigger just arrived today and hopefully I'll get back on the blogging bandwagon this weekend.

We have plans to attend the Budafest Christmas parade this weekend and then the carnival in City Park. Jay has been working hard on getting the Christmas decorations up. With this early cold snap, I'm feeling super festive.

ALSO, other news - I'm feeling a little bloated and queasy lately. We have another couple of weeks to wait to see what that's really all about.

The image above is from here and it's something I would love for Christmas.

Joining Bloglovin

2009-11-17T12:17:00.000-08:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Happy 40th!!

2009-11-12T08:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Jay!

image from here

Ants

2009-11-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

I love to decorate with bugs - I like this throw pillow very much. From baily doesn't bark.

Cloud 9

2009-11-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

I absolutely adore this headband. From here.

Phone Obsession

2009-11-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Oliver is totally obsessed with our phones. If he sees one, he wants it. This can obviously be a problem especially because my phone is also my camera. This is a typical exchange:

Hey! You have the phone out! Alright!

Hand it over Mama!

What do you mean NO?

Our Pumpkin

2009-11-03T09:15:00.001-08:00

We were really pressed for time on Halloween and almost didn't get around to carving the pumpkin. Actually, Jay did all the carving. I think it looked great - not too scary, perfect for Oliver's first Halloween.

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

Quinn and Oliver enjoying the Buda Pumpkin Patch last Sunday. We picked out a pretty good one, with their help, of course.

Dia de Los Muertos

2009-10-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Jay, Oliver and I went to the Viva la Vida fest held downtown by the Mexic-Arte Museum. Oliver was dressed up in his tiger costume for Quinn's Halloween carnival that we stopped by beforehand (Quinn's costume was great as always - photos of her soon).

The festival was worth the parking headache. Papa Bear was working the beer booth and set us up. Oma showed up with little Buster Brown and we all danced to the music and watched the procession go by.

Siblings

2009-10-13T13:25:00.001-07:00

Quinn is a great big sister and loves to help with changing Oliver's diapers, giving baths and reading his bedtime story. Moments like this one are just so sweet. I know that they are fleeting and just too few which makes them even more precious.

Learning How to Play a New Game

2009-09-25T11:18:00.000-07:00

I randomly ran across some photos of people playing at the Shoreditch Bike Polo Invitational.

It looks like a lot of fun, so I did a little research and found a group here in Austin that plays. They meet on Sundays at 2:00 and Thursdays at 5:30 at Eastwoods Park. This is also an excuse to start a Life List. Got the idea here. Item number 1. Bike Polo.

Marbles = Fun

2009-09-18T08:35:00.001-07:00

This is the bext idea for a table EVER! It's called a Marbelous table. I can hear all the little marbles rolling now....I want one please.

From here.

Shoes for Fall

2009-09-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

With El Nino forming in the Pacific, this fall and winter is supposed to be cool and wet. I've got an overabundance of sandals and flip flops, but very little to keep my toes warm and dry. So, these are what I've been thinking about: Ciao Bella Finland, Clarks Wallabees, and French Sole Sloop. Easy, simple, goes with everything.

Oh, and I would love this to wear when it gets chilly. Though, I should probably start looking for something similar in my price range.

(Jay just gave me a lesson with Photoshop to modify these images. Hope I can remember what I just learned!)

Quinn and Leo

2009-09-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

Choosing the puppy was kinda hard, but we did it. Meet Leo.

(My mom is saving Oliver from a rogue puppy in the background)

Update: Quinn really loved the little black female puppy that she is holding in the second photo - so she is going to take both Leo and this one home in a couple of weeks and decide between the two. oh decisions..... I have a feeling we are going to end up with two little puppies and a Rigby to keep them in line. totally fine by me.

Update to the Update: Quinn has decided that Leo was her first love. So, two little cream colored dogs at home it is. Can't wait until we get to bring Leo home!

Reading Room

2009-09-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

Quinn, Oliver and I are going to pick out a new puppy today at four. I am very excited for her and am really looking forward to meeting our newest family member. In the meantime, I'm browsing around blogs and craigslist on breaks from loan application reviews from West Texas. I would love this couch with this quilt. My mind drifts to an imaginary room where I can read in peace and quiet on the couch wrapped up in the quilt until I fall into a long deep afternoon nap.

From here and here.

Little Musician

2009-08-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

Like most babies, Oliver loves to make music. But because Jay has been playing his guitar to Oliver since we brought him home, I think he is developing a special affinity for music and musical instruments. I can have Oliver in another part of the house and if he hears his Dada playing the piano or guitar, he'll want to go find it to sit, watch and listen. He also especially loves to listen to his big sister sing and watch his Papa Bear play the drums on Wednesday nights. What a lucky kid to be surrounded by so many musically talented people.

Bath Time

2009-08-11T15:04:00.001-07:00

I can't believe how fast Oliver is growing. He pulled himself up onto the side of the tub this morning after his bath. He's going to hate these photos when he's older. But, isn't that bottom just adorable??

Nicole Miller

2009-08-11T11:08:00.001-07:00

I just discovered this photographer from here. Her work is just beautiful.

Originally uploaded by nicole ☆ lynn

Lowell Farms

2009-08-10T14:22:00.000-07:00

I was able to tour a rice farm in Lavaca County last week while in Edna, Texas for a Regional Water Planning Group meeting. L.G. Raun (one of the planning group members) gave me a full tour of his operation including the fields, pumps houses and irrigation canals. Then I got to ride on a state of the art combine. It was so serene in the combine as it rumbled over the fields at about 1.5 mph. These birds are waiting for the grasshoppers in the rice as it is being harvested. L.G. told me that the harvest this year was a record breaker. The lack of rain and abundant sunshine meant the rice was healthy, happy and pest free. Of course, they irrigate the fields with water brought up by huge well pumps. I gained a lot of respect for the work that farmers do and think it is a shame that they operate with such small profit margins. The trip also made me think about how important spending that extra dollar or two is to ensure that organic agriculture continues to grow and thrive.

Seeing a Movie

2009-07-30T09:09:00.001-07:00

My sister Audrey, nephew Gibreel and I went to see the latest Harry Potter movie last night at the IMAX theater in the Texas State History Museum. The previews and first 12 minutes of the movie were in 3D. It was so much fun. We even shared a bag of freshly popped popcorn and junior mints that they let us bring in from home. In our case, it was from the 7-Eleven down the street that I ran to after we learned they didn't have any concessions. I made it back just in time to squeeze back in line and enter the theater. I am realizing how precious time spent like that is and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Oliver - 34 weeks

2009-07-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

From Family

Not only is he crawling on all fours now, he is pulling himself up to standing. We have lots of baby proofing to do.

King

2009-07-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

We're going to upgrade the size of our bed soon so Oliver has more space to hog. Really, I'm not getting enough quality sleep because I'm balancing myself right on the edge of the bed most of the night. That boy likes to sleep spread eagled. The added benefit is enough room for the entire family (including Rigby and our future puppy) to pile on while enjoying a lazy weekend morning or an evening of reading books together.

After lots of research, we decided to go with a Keetsa mattress. I first saw them on Blu Dot's website. A local shop downtown that carries Blu Dot furniture will have floor models to test by the time we plan to buy one. The whole concept is really cool, plus they are reasonably priced. We also don't want to spend a lot of money on a bedframe right now, so we're either going with an IKEA Malm bedframe, something from Overstock, or perhaps we'll brave the furniture outlets in San Marcos.

I'd love it if we could recreate the look of this bed, from here. I posted the source of the bedding here. Beautiful, but expensive - I think I'll be doing some sewing.

I even love the wall color - it's so cheerful. Painting is next on our list.

Sunday Snacking

2009-07-21T13:43:00.001-07:00

On the weekends we are usually too busy to sit down and have a meal unless we go out to eat. So we keep lots of munchies on the counter to graze on during the day. In the past that has included some unhealthy goodies. Lately, I have been trying to be more aware of what and how we eat. So, I've started to keep the house stocked with more healthy options for all of us.

Last week I picked up an order of fresh fruits and veggies from the local Sustainable Food Center farm to work program. Sunday morning we had it all out to munch on. Even the chips were healthy with organic soy and flax seeds and some homemade hummus.

(Rigby in the background wishes he could have some - he's a shameless beggar)

To Do List

2009-07-17T13:25:00.001-07:00

You know those things that you want to be doing, but slip your mind most days? With Oliver, that is teaching him signs to communicate. I have other things like eating more veggies, remembering to take the stairs, picking up Jay's shoes from the repair place, etc.. etc...

I just found this website, Baby Signs, and want to remember to pick up a copy of the book.

Following them on Twitter might be a good way to help me to remember. Now how do I remind myself to get my car registered?

Oliver is 8 months old!

2009-07-15T09:52:00.001-07:00

Here he is in his new convertible car seat. He took a few tentative forward crawling steps last night. Two little bottom teeth appeared last month and in the last week a top tooth poked through. He is a very happy, giggly and still mellow little guy.

Thirty-Sixth Birthday

2009-07-13T08:38:00.001-07:00

I had a fantastic 36th birthday weekend. We celebrated by taking Quinn and Oliver to lunch at Fogo de Chão. This was a happy accident as we meant to have lunch at the Melting Pot but they were closed. Fogo de Chão is right next door so we went there instead. It was a really fun time. The salad bar was my favorite, but the cuts of meat were delicious.

On the 4th, my parents, Cliff, Audrey, Jaleck, and the kids came over to celebrate the holiday with a little cookout. We had cake and ice cream and listened to my Dad's ipod that Jay rigged up downstairs with some computer speakers and a small pre-amp. That evening Jay, Oliver and I checked out the Buda fireworks. Quinn went with Gibreel and Dalal for a sleepover. They watched the Town Lake fireworks. We missed Quinn that night, but really loved the small town atmosphere and lack of traffic. Oliver clapped at the fireworks and seemed to really enjoy himself.

I think I'm getting to an age where birthday gifts aren't necessary. I love receiving thoughtful cards and enjoying the day with loved ones. But this year, I feel like I cleaned up. This necklace was a gift to myself. It was made by Kate from for me,for you. It finally came in the mail on Friday. Jay, Quinn and Oliver gave me the stools I blogged about here. They look really great in the kitchen. And then the rest of my family all pitched in and gave me an Ergo baby carrier. I absolutely love it. Carrying Oliver in his sling was great, but this carrier is so much more comfortable. Grocery shopping has always been fun for me, but now I really look forward to it because I can take Oliver with me in the ergo. He likes to rest his head on my chest and then plays a game where he looks up at me and then giggles when I finally look down and say 'boo!'.

Fashion Serendipity

2009-07-09T10:14:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend, Jay, Quinn and I saw Land of the Lost at Tinseltown. Funny movie, freezing theater. And on the way out I saw this image of Marilyn Monroe among the wall of framed movie legends. I'm not really a fan but I love the dress she is wearing. Today while browsing blogs, I came across this post about this striped tee at French Connection. Random - too bad I don't do turtlenecks well. The buttons down the back are great.
I also just read about some other cute tops French Connection has on sale here.

He Likes Peas

2009-06-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Oliver has been eating solids now for about two months. He started out with rice cereal and breastmilk, then graduated to mashed sweet potatoes. Since then he has had apples, pears, plums, carrots, bananas, and butternut squash. Yesterday, he finally ate some peas mixed with sweet potatoes. I was so proud of him!

I've been making his baby food myself and then freezing it. It is super easy and inexpensive. I also like knowing exactly what he is eating. Having the food frozen in portions makes getting his meals ready for school in the morning so convenient.

Tables Again

2009-06-29T15:31:00.001-07:00

I love this room. It's from this post. There is something about large scale tables and bentwood chairs that really appeals to me - and then there is the starkness of the room. I love the bare window and floors. You can just see the echo in the room. However, I'm not so sure this really works in our home. A large table just doesn't seem comfortable with our small family. We'll be searching for a new table soon that is more intimate, but I'm not sure I want to give up on the bentwood and black finishes.

I also posted about stools for the kitchen >here.

Clothkits

2009-06-25T15:33:00.000-07:00

These are just so amazing. I love Rob Ryan. Clothkits from the UK was popular in the 70's and they recently relaunched the brand. These skirt kits would make such a great gift for a sewer. The kids clothes kits are really cute, too.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-25T14:37:00.000-07:00

We had a great time last weekend celebrating Father's Day. It included mimosas in bed, homemade breakfast tacos, cards and gifts (Quinn put together the sweetest photo collage of her and Oliver), a trip out for lantanas, bulbines, and a firebush for the front yard, and then meeting up with friends at the Salt Lick. We got home after a full day and Jay still wanted to plant everything, so he dug while I unpotted. It was a fun, hot, sweaty, really great day! Of course it was celebrated with plenty of Lonestar and Tecate.

Happy Father's Day to a wonderful Da Da!

Thoughts (mostly Questions) on Motherhood

2009-06-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

This morning after leaving Oliver in his classroom at Rosewood, I saw a new mother sitting at the entrance to the daycare with her infant daughter. She was reading through the enrollment materials. Her face was drawn, slightly tired, definitely apprehensive and a little sad. I think I looked exactly the same way the first time I visited Rosewood. The thought of leaving Oliver in someone else's care for most of the day seemed unbearable.

However, my mood that morning was happy- I was bouncing out of the center looking forward to finishing up some things at work. The contrast really struck me.

Then I wondered, how did my feelings change so drastically? Was it seeing Oliver thrive while at daycare? Was it the amount of freedom daycare afforded me? If I say yes to the first question I feel like a good mom. If I say yes to the second, then I feel guilty. Is it okay to enjoy a few hours each day away from our children - even knowing those hours are necessary?

What happened between that first day, dropping him off at daycare and crying on the way to my office, and this morning, looking forward to my day knowing that I would see him at lunch to nurse and then again after work?

Will this process of separation repeat itself for the rest of his life?

Baby Pants

2009-06-11T08:50:00.001-07:00

A while back at Torchy's Tacos, I saw the cutest little boy in homemade yellow pants. I decided then that I wanted Oliver to wear homemade pants too. He has been growing out of clothes so quickly, and most baby clothes are cut for disposable diapers, so finding good fitting shorts and pants has been a challenge. Making some especially for him seemed like a great idea.

The ones above are made from a madras fabric I bought at Hancock. But then I decided to just find fabric around the house. Each pair takes about 3/4 of a yard. These are from the bottom of some pajama pants that Jay cut off a few months ago.

These were made from one of Jay's vintage western shirts. They are my favorite so far. I placed the pattern on the shirt so that I could use the chest pockets for back pockets on the pants. (This photo is also the first time Oliver has supported himself on all fours!!)

After making a couple of pair, I got tired of finishing the edges with a zig zag stitch, so these are finished with french seams, except for the crotch. After they were cut, I added a little bit of contrasting fabric along the waistband to lengthen the rise. This made more room for his diaper. The others have been a little tight. (Sorry for the blurry pic)

I found another shirt yesterday that I'll turn into pants this weekend. It has been so much fun to repurpose old clothes for Oliver, and he just looks so cute in them.

TWDB* Girl's Weekend

2009-06-10T14:39:00.001-07:00

My coworker Wendy hosted the second annual Girl's Weekend at her family's ranch outside of Llano, near Castell. We spent the entire day Saturday lounging in the river, relaxing, chatting and enjoying the water and sun.

Sharing the river with the cattle (we stayed upstream).

I was one very relaxed momma after that weekend.

*TWDB = Texas Water Development Board

Fun Weekend

2009-05-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we had lots of visitors to the house. Friday night Tio Chago and his new wife Ginny came to visit. They are our new awesome future babysitters. Oliver had so much fun playing with them!

I made some homemade french bread for dinner Friday and it turned out pretty well, so I spent some time baking potato bread Saturday afternoon. It actually turned out great! I have made several failed attempts at yeast breads before so it was nice to have two recipes turn out well. My bread baking confidence is bolstered. I finally learned that the trick is to use a thermometer to get the yeast started.

Then Tara, Jerome, Flynn and Francis came to visit on Sunday. Flynn is a few months older and he wanted to play! Oliver will eventually get there...

Madsen Cycles

2009-05-26T13:22:00.001-07:00

Speaking of bikes, this one is really cool too!

Hanging Out with the Guys

2009-05-21T13:06:00.001-07:00

It is so much fun to watch the babies socialize at school. Today Oliver played with his friends Cooper, Joshua and David. They had a great time sharing toys and posing for pictures. I wonder what it will be like once all these little guys learn to crawl?

Upcycling at Etsy

2009-05-21T12:41:00.001-07:00

My grandmother had a complete set of turquoise Samsonite hard sided luggage. The set was given to her as a thank you gift from the parents of a preemie when she was a prenatal nurse in the 1960s. Growing up, whenever one of us needed a suitcase we could borrow a piece of Grandmother's. My favorite piece was always the train case that she would let me take to summer camp. So, when I saw this shop I thought of her. I like how they have updated the luggage with cool graphic details. I want this one, too.

Baby Hank Vintage

2009-05-21T12:32:00.001-07:00

I accidently deleted this post. I'd feel kind of silly trying to remember exactly what it said and then get it wrong so I'll just say I love this Etsy shop. I haven't even bothered with shoes for Oliver yet - he's only worn socks so far. But, I have a mental list of baby shoes that he can wear once he needs them and these are on it. So cute.

Sunny Spot

2009-05-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

This is how I found Oliver when I went to pick him up from daycare the other day. Miss Susan told me that he was playing on the mat and just fell asleep so they left him there. I've since learned that I can put him on the floor to play at home and if he is tired he'll just take a nap.

Being a Big Boy (6 months)

2009-05-20T13:02:00.001-07:00

When we were out for brunch on Mother's Day, Oliver showed us that he can sit at the table in a high chair. He loved banging on the tabletop and looking around the restaurant while we ate. I was so excited to have him join us at the table. We gave Oliver a taste of some grits and he scrunched his face up with a grimace. He hadn't officially started solids yet, so I guess it was a big surprise to have something so different to taste.

Summer Sandals

2009-05-19T15:11:00.001-07:00

I'm actually posting this as a reminder to myself of how much I love these two sandals. The first are Saltwater Sandals. As you can see they also make them in kid's sizes. I think a red pair for me and a green pair for Oliver would be great so we can sort of copycat the first photo. The second are Funkis clogs. I think I just wore my Dansko clogs for the last time this spring and these would be a perfect summer replacement.

Photos from here and here.

Bike Inspiration

2009-05-15T13:02:00.001-07:00

I love what Jim of Sweet Juniper has done with this vintage bike. It is outfitted with seats for his two children and fishing baskets for cargo. My bike at home is an old silver Puch mixte that I found on ebay. It might just get this same treatment. Family bike outings with Jay, Quinn and Oliver would be so much fun. Oh, I can just imagine the look on Oliver's face from the breeze as we take our first spin.

Shirts and Patterns

2009-05-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

I have a few baby posts that I'm working on, but for some reason I am procrastinating with those... so, check out some more tops that I like. I've been working on pants for Oliver so men's wear patterns are on my mind. What do y'all think of the awesome new header my dear husband designed for me? I love the faint window pane pattern. He's the greatest.

Steven Alan Tina Shirt; Steven Alan Cotton Checked Shirt; A.P.C. Madras Top

Color

2009-05-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

I want one in every single color. I've been contemplating my color comfort zone. I graviate towards greys and dark blues and greens. Bright colors take too much energy to put together in the morning for me. I think finding these tees is a sign that I should just stick with what I know....

Sitting Up (5 months)

2009-04-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

Oliver is very excited about being able to sit up. He says, 'Oh! Well hello there... Can I eat your face?'

Kitchen Chairs

2009-04-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

These images are the inspiration for an idea I have for our breakfast area. Last weekend I refinished the top of our gigantic round kitchen table. It has a nice 'hand rubbed' finish look to it now. We just need chairs.....

from here, here, here and here

Partnering

2009-04-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I drive Jay absolutely ape shit with frustration. In return he just told me one of the most romantic things I've ever heard: 'I aways want someone to be able to look in my ears for me.'

How can I argue with that?

image

Happy Tape

2009-04-15T15:12:00.001-07:00

I'm not much of a crafter, but this looks like some really cool stuff. I'd never have to buy wrapping paper again - just a brown paper bag and this.

via apartment therapy.

Activity Center

2009-04-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa Kennedy gave Oliver this Baby Einstein activity center. We came home late one evening and there it was just inside the front door. Here he is at 19 weeks enjoying the spinning frog. He LOVES his time in it. Such a big boy....

Loving Diaper Laundry

2009-04-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite mom bloggers Amalah writes about cloth diapering here. I feel the same. I've loved using our bumGenius diapers. We never have to run to the store for diapers and I love Oliver's fat squishy behind. And then there are the environmental and health benefits -there's some nasty stuff in conventional disposables. I just can't stand the thought of chucking all of that paper, plastic and polyacrylamide gel into our local landfill every single day for the next 2+ years.

With the cloth diapers we've had a few issues with wicking and diaper rash, but nothing insurmountable. Mostly minor annoyances. Jay has expressed concern over the stiff Velcro strip at the waist confining Oliver's mobility (i.e. toe touching). I've adjusted how I secure the diapers to allow more room in the waist. Seems to be working so far. Only time will tell...

I really want to try out the FuzziBunz- those bright colors are so cute and the snap system might solve the issue with the Velcro strip. Now, we just need a nice big refund check to make that happen.

(Update: Just discovered that bumGenius makes an organic cotton one-size all-in-one with snaps! The reviews look promising. The ones we use are micro-fleece with micro-fiber inserts. I would much rather use organic cotton and not have to deal with stuffing inserts.)

Benches

2009-04-13T13:21:00.001-07:00

from here via remodelista - this too.

There is something soothing to me about sliding up to your place at the table along a bench. Some of my best childhood memories took place while sitting on a bench of my parent's dinner table.

At 9, crammed between my siblings at dinner I went into a fit of giggles so hard I fell backward off the bench and just rolled on the ground until it passed. I've done hours and hours of homework on those benches. It was a regular ritual growing up to sit and talk with my grandmother while she enjoyed her daily beer and a cigarrette at the end of the table. Sometimes we didn't say much at all, I would just sit with her and trace the grain of the wood on the table or watch the thin trail of smoke float up to the ceiling.

On Sundays after church I would sit at the table to read the comics. Nearing 16 I would also flip through the classified ads looking for my dream car. I have celebrated almost every single birthday sitting at the end of the table while my friends and family flanked the sides sitting on those benches.

And while celebrating Easter with my family yesterday, Jay sat at the table on one of the benches and it made me smile hoping he knew what a special place that was for me and knowing another good memory was just created.

Kid's Music

2009-04-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

I bought Oliver his first kid's music CD last week at Kid Genius. My favorite two songs are "Race Cars Go" (which just makes me smile) and "Captain Sleep". You can check out the whole album here.

I'm looking forward to finding music geared towards children that we'll enjoy listening to also. NPR did a story on a kid's music blog called Zooglobble that I plan on checking out. The Pokey Pup also recommends and reviews good stuff out there.

Easy

2009-04-08T09:26:00.001-07:00

I would like nothing more than to wear pretty dresses and sandals all summer long.

from top to bottom: A.P.C., Sunja Link, Church & State

Emeco

2009-04-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

I want this chair, many of them. Just gorgeous...

from here.

Making Bread

2009-04-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

photo by Soulemama

Oh, I love this. I've made a few attempts at homemade bread and they were not successful. I think I need to just keep trying. The linen bread bag is such a good idea.

Alone

2009-03-31T10:21:00.001-07:00

lonely cloud, Originally uploaded byMadmàT

From childhood's hour I have not been

As others were - I have not seen

As others saw - I could not bring

My passions from a common spring -

From the same source I have not taken

My sorrow - I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone -

And all I loved - I loved alone -

Then - in my childhood, in the dawn

Of a most stormy life - was drawn

From every depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still -

From the torrent, or the fountain -

From the red cliff of the mountain -

From the sun that round me rolled

In its autumn tint of gold -

From the lightning in the sky

As it pass'd me flying by -

From the thunder and the storm -

And the cloud that took the form

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)

Of a demon in my view. -

Edgar Alan Poe, 1830

Bacon & Cheddar

2009-03-30T14:19:00.000-07:00

I'll be making these soon. Jay mentioned something like this last night while watching War Games. Not sure what the connection was - maybe it was a Burger King commercial. So, I found this recipe on Tastespotting. I'd like to skip the scallions and maple glaze the bacon. yum.

Brother's Wedding

2009-03-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

Dresses - by Angeladean on Polyvore.com

I'm never quite sure what to wear to weddings. This one is a little bit more challenging - I need to find something I can nurse in and look good enough for the family wedding portraits.

I'm out of time to order something online. Here's what I like so far. Oh, help.....

Another Set

2009-03-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

Another Kitchen - by Angeladean on Polyvore.com

I never get tired of this - holler if you do.

Oliver - 4 months

2009-03-24T14:49:00.001-07:00

Translation

2009-03-23T14:47:00.001-07:00

What we really need is a new dining set for the breakfast area. The beautiful set in the previous post is way out of our budget. This might work -

Kitchen Table - by Angeladean on Polyvore.com

other possibilities here, here and here

Our House

2009-03-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

Our new house is in serious need for some decorating. These images are inspiring. Looks like I tend towards the austere.

from remodelista including this, this, and this.

Belly Picture Series

2009-03-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

I love this series of belly photos - especially the notes. As I read them I am reminded of each week with Oliver and it is so familiar. Such a universal experience...

from pacing the panic room via for me,for you

Outerspace Toys

2009-03-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

I've been drawn to space themed toys and clothes for Oliver. This playmat is perfect.

from Skip Hop