Hey Humble Readers...
I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I promise. My sad little laptop is still with the computer doctors (hopefully it will be home tomorrow... pretty please with sugar on top!). Life has continued to go on around the hobbit hole, but it has been very challenging to be computer-less. We have a desk top unit, which is what my Beloved usually uses, but due to how it's situated in our living room, I'm not able to use it when the wee-lings are up and about as I would have to have my back to the room. And in the evening, well, I have been spending time with my Beloved and watching all the season premiers that have been on this week.
*****
Icky-grossness of the week... a robin managed to fly itself smack into our balcony window. It was early-ish this morning, and I still had the curtains closed, so I didn't see it happen (THANK HEAVENS), but now there is a dead robin on our balcony. For those of you who are new to the hobbit hole, you need to know that I am a serious ornithophobe. I am 100% terrified and grossed out by anything with feathers and anything that flies. So, needless to say, I'm not going out on the balcony until that thing is gone, and nothing in my house is allowed to touch it, so my Beloved has a job ahead of him tonight figuring out how to get it gone.
*****
Please send prayers/good thoughts my Beloved's way this afternoon. He has a job interview in just over an hour. This is the first serious nibble he's gotten since he started putting out his resume almost 6 months ago.
*****
Pippin went for his 4 month vaccinations on Wednesday and he did really well. Didn't start to cry until the nurse was almost done with the second of three needles. He currently weighs in at 16lb 8oz, and is 25.5inches long. He's already more than doubled his birth weight, and is currently sitting solidly in the 75th percentile on the growth charts. He's been a bit grumpy and sleeping a bit more than usual for the last couple of days, but that's to be expected.
*****
Ginny is learning her numbers and letters with wild abandon. Every time she sees a number or a letter, we have to name it for her, and she is constantly counting her toys and books.
*****
Pip is getting tired of being in his jumper-thingy so I have to run. Hope to be back here very soon!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
On This Day...
Hey Humble Readers...
On September 18th...
14 – Tiberius is confirmed as Roman Emperor by the Roman Senate following the natural death of Augustus
324 – Constantine the Great decisively defeats Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis, establishing Constantine's sole control over the Roman Empire.
1180 – Philip Augustus becomes king of France.
1679 – New Hampshire becomes a county of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1809 – The Royal Opera House in London opens.
1851 – First publication of The New-York Daily Times, which later becomes The New York Times.
1919 – The Netherlands gives women the right to vote.
1934 – The USSR is admitted to League of Nations.
1975 – Patty Hearst is arrested after a year on the FBI Most Wanted List.
1984 – Joe Kittinger completes the first solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic.
1998 – ICANN is formed.
2009 – The 72 year run of the soap opera The Guiding Light ends as its final episode is broadcast.
I share my birthday with a bio-aunt (she was 12 when I was born) and she got married on her birthday 8 years later. I was a flower-girl.
My bio-sister's birthday was yesterday. I had a step-cousin, whose birthday is tomorrow.
I started college on my 19th birthday.
The first day of our NYC trip 3 years ago was my birthday.
My Beloved got me the Rachael Ray pasta pot that I have been longing for FOREVER, and 'from the wee-lings' I got a giftcard for my favourite clothing store (where I will be buying my much longed for new bras!). I know that my Beloved has arranged for a sitter tonight, and that we're going out.
Happy Birthday to me!!!
****
Sleep Update - last night was better, but not spectacular. Master Pippin got laid down in his crib just before midnight... and Miss Ginny woke up. But she was able to settle fairly quickly. Over the next half hour I was in and out of the nursery a couple of times, just to re-settle Ginny. Pip was dead to the world. I woke up at about 3:15 to Ginny squawking. Got her settled again, and Pip was awake, so I fed him, and then he and I slept in the living room again until 6. I think once we get past the 3am feedings again, we might be in a pretty good place. I just feel bad that Ginny, who has always been a great sleeper, is having to be put through this.
On September 18th...
14 – Tiberius is confirmed as Roman Emperor by the Roman Senate following the natural death of Augustus
324 – Constantine the Great decisively defeats Licinius in the Battle of Chrysopolis, establishing Constantine's sole control over the Roman Empire.
1180 – Philip Augustus becomes king of France.
1679 – New Hampshire becomes a county of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1809 – The Royal Opera House in London opens.
1851 – First publication of The New-York Daily Times, which later becomes The New York Times.
1919 – The Netherlands gives women the right to vote.
1934 – The USSR is admitted to League of Nations.
1975 – Patty Hearst is arrested after a year on the FBI Most Wanted List.
1984 – Joe Kittinger completes the first solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic.
1998 – ICANN is formed.
2009 – The 72 year run of the soap opera The Guiding Light ends as its final episode is broadcast.
(all info/links above respectfully borrowed from Wikipedia)
And in 1974, at 6:30 in the morning, your friendly neighbourhood wanna-be hobbit took her first breath. :)I share my birthday with a bio-aunt (she was 12 when I was born) and she got married on her birthday 8 years later. I was a flower-girl.
My bio-sister's birthday was yesterday. I had a step-cousin, whose birthday is tomorrow.
I started college on my 19th birthday.
The first day of our NYC trip 3 years ago was my birthday.
My Beloved got me the Rachael Ray pasta pot that I have been longing for FOREVER, and 'from the wee-lings' I got a giftcard for my favourite clothing store (where I will be buying my much longed for new bras!). I know that my Beloved has arranged for a sitter tonight, and that we're going out.
Happy Birthday to me!!!
****
Sleep Update - last night was better, but not spectacular. Master Pippin got laid down in his crib just before midnight... and Miss Ginny woke up. But she was able to settle fairly quickly. Over the next half hour I was in and out of the nursery a couple of times, just to re-settle Ginny. Pip was dead to the world. I woke up at about 3:15 to Ginny squawking. Got her settled again, and Pip was awake, so I fed him, and then he and I slept in the living room again until 6. I think once we get past the 3am feedings again, we might be in a pretty good place. I just feel bad that Ginny, who has always been a great sleeper, is having to be put through this.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Monday Snapshot: Tired
Howdy Humble Readers...
Again, I'm late to the party. **sigh** I have a good reason though!
We did it. We bit the bullet. Pippin slept in the nursery with Ginny last night. Well, sleep might be overstating things a bit, but it was a big step.
Things didn't go all that well. I think it was actually a perfect storm of a bad day.
Ginny ended up going to bed early last night because she was sick, grumpy, and really just a bear (she's been refusing to nap lately, and is back to removing her diaper in protest). I went to bed early to read. My Beloved stayed up to give Pippin his usual dream feed at around 11. After the bottle, a diaper change, and jammies, it was TIME. My Beloved wrapped him in his swaddle bag and took him into the nursery.
Pip woke up just as he was being laid down in the crib, so he needed to suck on his fist to help him go back to sleep. He doesn't exactly do this quietly. He sounds like a saint bernard with a particularly juicy bone.
Ginny woke up. Angry.
Long story short, my night was spent sitting on the couch in the dark with alternating children until they both fell asleep. By that time, I figured that it wouldn't be long until Pip woke up to be fed, so I would stay awake. Ha ha. I dozed off, and woke 20 minutes later to his very angy hungry cry, and Ginny standing in her crib pointing at him saying, "Baby cwyin'. Baby loud." I managed to get her settled again pretty quick and was able to feed Pip. By this time it was after 4am, so I laid him down in the bassinett in the living room, and I crashed on the couch.
He woke up again at 6.
Today was better, simply by virtue of both of the wee-lings taking good solid naps because they were so tired. I caught about 20 minutes of a snooze this afternoon.
Pippin was so tired at dinner-time tonight, that I had a funny mummy-fail moment. While the three of us eat dinner, Pip usually hangs out in his bassinett, but that didn't seem to be doing it for him tonight. So my Beloved moved him over to his jumper/exerciser thingy. And this is what happened...
Yup, that's my wee little mister, fast asleep.
Hopefully, tonight will be better. We'll see. It's a process of getting them used to sleeping in the same room, right?
*****
This was posted as a part of PAIL Blogger's Monday Snapshot blog hop. Click over and see what the others are sharing tonight.
Again, I'm late to the party. **sigh** I have a good reason though!
We did it. We bit the bullet. Pippin slept in the nursery with Ginny last night. Well, sleep might be overstating things a bit, but it was a big step.
Things didn't go all that well. I think it was actually a perfect storm of a bad day.
Ginny ended up going to bed early last night because she was sick, grumpy, and really just a bear (she's been refusing to nap lately, and is back to removing her diaper in protest). I went to bed early to read. My Beloved stayed up to give Pippin his usual dream feed at around 11. After the bottle, a diaper change, and jammies, it was TIME. My Beloved wrapped him in his swaddle bag and took him into the nursery.
Pip woke up just as he was being laid down in the crib, so he needed to suck on his fist to help him go back to sleep. He doesn't exactly do this quietly. He sounds like a saint bernard with a particularly juicy bone.
Ginny woke up. Angry.
Long story short, my night was spent sitting on the couch in the dark with alternating children until they both fell asleep. By that time, I figured that it wouldn't be long until Pip woke up to be fed, so I would stay awake. Ha ha. I dozed off, and woke 20 minutes later to his very angy hungry cry, and Ginny standing in her crib pointing at him saying, "Baby cwyin'. Baby loud." I managed to get her settled again pretty quick and was able to feed Pip. By this time it was after 4am, so I laid him down in the bassinett in the living room, and I crashed on the couch.
He woke up again at 6.
 |
| Ginny 'reading' to Pippin. It took us a while to get dressed this morning. |
Pippin was so tired at dinner-time tonight, that I had a funny mummy-fail moment. While the three of us eat dinner, Pip usually hangs out in his bassinett, but that didn't seem to be doing it for him tonight. So my Beloved moved him over to his jumper/exerciser thingy. And this is what happened...
Yup, that's my wee little mister, fast asleep.
Hopefully, tonight will be better. We'll see. It's a process of getting them used to sleeping in the same room, right?
*****
This was posted as a part of PAIL Blogger's Monday Snapshot blog hop. Click over and see what the others are sharing tonight.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday Night Chit Chat
Howdy Humble Readers...
So it's Sunday again... Another week has just flown by! Of course, this past week has been dominated by kleenex, cough drops, and lots of extra fluids. Still, we are on the mend! (the wee-lings are handling this cold with much better grace than I have)
What are you:
Reading?
Gah! After my big hyped-up talk last week about how I have my reading mojo back... this week has shown just how pathetic I am. I am still reading Order of the Phoenix, only a couple hundred pages from where I was at this time last week. I have got to get it in gear!
Watching?
Nothing this evening. There is absolutely nothing on. I thought that a couple of my shows were starting back up this week, but it turns out I'm a week ahead of things. But that's okay. It will give me time to hopefully finish up reading HP & OotP tonight.
Baking/Cooking?
Dinner tonight was the first of 3 new recipes for us this week. Parmesan Pork Roast, served with the typical Sunday night extras... gravy, mashed taters, veggies, and yorkies.
PS - if you're ever curious about what's being served in the hobbit-hole, check out the menu over there on the right. I have gotten a lot better about updating it every week lately.
Happy you accomplished this week?
LOL... If I accomplished anything this week it certainly wasn't anything earth shattering. Everyone was bathed, dressed, and fed. That about covers it.
Looking forward to next week?
While it's not terribly grown up of me to admit it, I'm looking forward to my birthday. I don't know what my Beloved has planned, if anything, but I'm looking forward to it nonetheless.
Thankful for this week?
The fact that we are all, relatively speaking, healthy. Yeah, I'm a wimp and can't stand being sick, but overall we are a healthy bunch. My Beloved has had maybe one sick day since I've known him, and the wee-lings are healthy and happy.
What website could you NOT go a day without checking in on?
I could state the obvious and say Blogger or Pinterest, but instead I'll give you...
My OB Said What?
I started reading this site a couple of years ago, and now it's a habit. It's a collection of all the stuff that doctors and nurses say to (primarily) pregnant women that is 100% assinine. From the sublime (Thoughtful Thursdays are a glimpse into the sane in the medical profession) to the absolute ridiculous (one of today's contributions was said by an OB to a new dad repeatedly "Are you sure you're the father?"). Sometimes the comment section can get a bit heated, but all in all, I find it enlightening and entertaining, in a sick and twisted kind of way.
Wanna know what Sunday Night Chit Chat is about? Click over to Carla's corner of the blogosphere and see what other's are talking about tonight.
So it's Sunday again... Another week has just flown by! Of course, this past week has been dominated by kleenex, cough drops, and lots of extra fluids. Still, we are on the mend! (the wee-lings are handling this cold with much better grace than I have)
 |
| Ginny looking very solemn, showing off her new haircut |
Reading?
Gah! After my big hyped-up talk last week about how I have my reading mojo back... this week has shown just how pathetic I am. I am still reading Order of the Phoenix, only a couple hundred pages from where I was at this time last week. I have got to get it in gear!
Watching?
Nothing this evening. There is absolutely nothing on. I thought that a couple of my shows were starting back up this week, but it turns out I'm a week ahead of things. But that's okay. It will give me time to hopefully finish up reading HP & OotP tonight.
Baking/Cooking?
Dinner tonight was the first of 3 new recipes for us this week. Parmesan Pork Roast, served with the typical Sunday night extras... gravy, mashed taters, veggies, and yorkies.
PS - if you're ever curious about what's being served in the hobbit-hole, check out the menu over there on the right. I have gotten a lot better about updating it every week lately.
Happy you accomplished this week?
LOL... If I accomplished anything this week it certainly wasn't anything earth shattering. Everyone was bathed, dressed, and fed. That about covers it.
Looking forward to next week?
While it's not terribly grown up of me to admit it, I'm looking forward to my birthday. I don't know what my Beloved has planned, if anything, but I'm looking forward to it nonetheless.
Thankful for this week?
The fact that we are all, relatively speaking, healthy. Yeah, I'm a wimp and can't stand being sick, but overall we are a healthy bunch. My Beloved has had maybe one sick day since I've known him, and the wee-lings are healthy and happy.
What website could you NOT go a day without checking in on?
I could state the obvious and say Blogger or Pinterest, but instead I'll give you...
My OB Said What?
I started reading this site a couple of years ago, and now it's a habit. It's a collection of all the stuff that doctors and nurses say to (primarily) pregnant women that is 100% assinine. From the sublime (Thoughtful Thursdays are a glimpse into the sane in the medical profession) to the absolute ridiculous (one of today's contributions was said by an OB to a new dad repeatedly "Are you sure you're the father?"). Sometimes the comment section can get a bit heated, but all in all, I find it enlightening and entertaining, in a sick and twisted kind of way.
Wanna know what Sunday Night Chit Chat is about? Click over to Carla's corner of the blogosphere and see what other's are talking about tonight.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Things I Missed Talking About...
Howdy Humble Readers...
Well, that was a week of my life I'll never get back. Jeez.
It was just a doozy of a cold, and I guess I was due. I haven't battled the Crud since my second trimester with Pippin (when I caught EVERY germ going around). I'm feeling better for the most part, just a lingering cough (particularly at night), a gravelly voice and varying levels of plugged ears which are improving.
I have been reading along with most of you this week, although I haven't made it to commenting. I do apologize. And there were so many blog posts I had planned, so many things I wanted to talk about this past week, like...
Well, that was a week of my life I'll never get back. Jeez.
It was just a doozy of a cold, and I guess I was due. I haven't battled the Crud since my second trimester with Pippin (when I caught EVERY germ going around). I'm feeling better for the most part, just a lingering cough (particularly at night), a gravelly voice and varying levels of plugged ears which are improving.
I have been reading along with most of you this week, although I haven't made it to commenting. I do apologize. And there were so many blog posts I had planned, so many things I wanted to talk about this past week, like...
- Pippin's four month post. I wanted to tell you all about how big he's getting (he's in size 3 diapers already!), about how much hair he's lost, and about how he's trying to sit up. About how he's so fixated on sucking on his fingers that sometimes he can almost get his whole hand in his mouth. About how he has this habit of not being able to fall asleep at night unless he fusses for 15 minutes first, like he's mad that he's tired and doesn't want to give in. And about the beautiful way he laughs at his big sister (which I still haven't managed to get on video).
- How hot is Michael Shanks? Seriously. For those of you who don't know him, he used to be in Stargate SG-1, and now he's in Saving Hope. In SG-1, I thought he was kinda cute, but his character started out as such a dweeb that I never really appreciated him in a drool-worthy kind of way. Now.... YUM! Maybe it's the scenes with him in a tux or in doctors' scrubs.
- Tuesday... 9/11, the fourth anniversary of when we lost Emily Hope (our first angel baby), and a year since we found out we were expecting Pip. Whew... the emotions that day, on top of having a crummy cold, were pretty intense.
- A question for any of my Jewish friends (and it's probably super stupid)... why does it matter if laundry soap is kosher? What makes the average laundry soap un-kosher?
- Have I ever told you all about my crazy annual craving for turkey? Every year, usually in June, I start craving turkey. I mean a full on turkey dinner. Stuffing, sweet potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie, the whole 9 yards. It kind of makes sense. The last time I would usually have had a turkey dinner was Christmas. (And no, a turkey sandwich made with deli turkey won't do!) But by June, it's too dang hot, and turkeys are too dang expensive, to think about cooking the full deal, so by mid-September I'm thinking about turkey on a daily basis. Thankfully, Canadian thanksgiving is just a few short weeks away! October 8th baby!
- Christmas prep... Blame it on my years in retail, but now that the autumn is here, I need to be thinking hard about the holidays. There are sooooo many crafts that I want to do! Damn Pinterest! I currently have one idea for a gift for my Beloved (which is stellar, as he is notoriously hard to shop for) and I'm toying with a couple of ideas for Ginny. Pippin won't need much, and I'm sure he'll be spoiled by Gramma and Mama.
- I have not forgotten about Foodie Fridays... I've just really let them slide by the wayside. I am seriously hoping to resurrect them this coming week. I have a new recipe that I'm trying this week and if it turns out well then I'll be sharing it with you. And if it doesn't, I'm going to plan a backup post. I promise!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Public Service Announcement
Hey Humble Readers...
When was the last time you cleaned your dryer vent? Be honest now.
I'm not talking about the lint trap, I'm talking about the actual exhaust hose and vent that goes outside your home. It's a task that's easily missed in your annual home maintenance schedule.
We are fairly sure that it had been done just before we moved, a little over four years ago. Over the past couple of years, my Beloved and I have talked about having someone come out to take care of it for us, but something more pressing always came up... like a new furnace, a new hot watertank, a baby or two needing car seats and all.
We finally bit the bullet and had a guy out to tackle this ooky job... And man oh man, it's a good thing he did.
(A bit of background... we live in an small older condo-ized apartment building in which every unit has stackable washers and dyers. We live on the second floor, and the length of the exhaust tubing from the dryer to the outside is too long and too high for us to manage this task ourselves. Hence the need to hire a professional.)
Humble Readers... there was a bird's nest in there. And I'm not talking figuratively. An actuall honest-to-goodness bird's nest. Just imagine all the lint and gunk that was trapped in there along with birdy ickies. It makes me shudder to think about it. Beyond the grossness factor, the risk of fire associated with blocked dryer vents is substantial.
So, my advice to you all... find out when you last had your dryer vent cleaned, and if it's been more than a couple of years, GET IT DONE!
We now return you to your regularly scheduled head-cold.
When was the last time you cleaned your dryer vent? Be honest now.
I'm not talking about the lint trap, I'm talking about the actual exhaust hose and vent that goes outside your home. It's a task that's easily missed in your annual home maintenance schedule.
We are fairly sure that it had been done just before we moved, a little over four years ago. Over the past couple of years, my Beloved and I have talked about having someone come out to take care of it for us, but something more pressing always came up... like a new furnace, a new hot watertank, a baby or two needing car seats and all.
We finally bit the bullet and had a guy out to tackle this ooky job... And man oh man, it's a good thing he did.
(A bit of background... we live in an small older condo-ized apartment building in which every unit has stackable washers and dyers. We live on the second floor, and the length of the exhaust tubing from the dryer to the outside is too long and too high for us to manage this task ourselves. Hence the need to hire a professional.)
Humble Readers... there was a bird's nest in there. And I'm not talking figuratively. An actuall honest-to-goodness bird's nest. Just imagine all the lint and gunk that was trapped in there along with birdy ickies. It makes me shudder to think about it. Beyond the grossness factor, the risk of fire associated with blocked dryer vents is substantial.
So, my advice to you all... find out when you last had your dryer vent cleaned, and if it's been more than a couple of years, GET IT DONE!
We now return you to your regularly scheduled head-cold.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The Crud Has Landed
Hey Humble Readers...
I was fully intending to do my "Pippin @ 4 Months" post today. But instead, I have spent the day nursing an ugly head cold and sore throat.
I confess that I'm a total wuss when I'm sick, and I know that mummies are supposed to be all selfless and be able to push through to take care of their families... but let's just say that the bare minimum is all that's getting done around the hobbit hole today. And when Ginny decided during her morning nap that today was a good day for finger painting with the contents of her diaper... I cried.
My Beloved even ended up cooking dinner for us tonight.
I'll be back when I'm not so whine-y.
I was fully intending to do my "Pippin @ 4 Months" post today. But instead, I have spent the day nursing an ugly head cold and sore throat.
I confess that I'm a total wuss when I'm sick, and I know that mummies are supposed to be all selfless and be able to push through to take care of their families... but let's just say that the bare minimum is all that's getting done around the hobbit hole today. And when Ginny decided during her morning nap that today was a good day for finger painting with the contents of her diaper... I cried.
My Beloved even ended up cooking dinner for us tonight.
I'll be back when I'm not so whine-y.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Memorable Moment Mondays: A Blustery Day
Hey Humble Readers...
I'm more than a little late to this week's MMM party, but I'm here. :)
Today has been a tad bit challenging, and I've decided to blame it on the fact that it was a very blustery, wet, and icky kind of day.
Have you ever heard about wind driving people insane? Well, I think that today's blustery-ness got under all our skins... at least me and the wee-lings.
Pip hasn't known what he's wanted all day... bottle? Nope! Burps? Nope! Bouncies? Nope! Tummy-time? Hell no! Sleeps in the bassinette? Nope! Sleeps on the floor? Nope! The only thing that seems to have settled him now is crying himself to sleep, with his fingers in his mouth. Poor wee little man.
Ginny spent the day alternating between extreme nuttiness... running all over, trying to climb in and out of the playpen, and using me as a jungle gym... and that grating kind of whiney-ness that just gets under your skin. Of course, it didn't help that during her nap this afternoon she decided to strip naked and take her diaper off (something she hasn't done in over a month) and decided to pee all over her her crib.
And I think I'm getting a cold.
***sigh***
Tomorrow will be a better day. I hope. :)
(Published as a part of PAIL Bloggers Memorable Moment Monday series. Click over and check out what others are sharing today.)
I'm more than a little late to this week's MMM party, but I'm here. :)
Today has been a tad bit challenging, and I've decided to blame it on the fact that it was a very blustery, wet, and icky kind of day.
 |
| Just before bedtime tonight. |
Have you ever heard about wind driving people insane? Well, I think that today's blustery-ness got under all our skins... at least me and the wee-lings.
Pip hasn't known what he's wanted all day... bottle? Nope! Burps? Nope! Bouncies? Nope! Tummy-time? Hell no! Sleeps in the bassinette? Nope! Sleeps on the floor? Nope! The only thing that seems to have settled him now is crying himself to sleep, with his fingers in his mouth. Poor wee little man.
Ginny spent the day alternating between extreme nuttiness... running all over, trying to climb in and out of the playpen, and using me as a jungle gym... and that grating kind of whiney-ness that just gets under your skin. Of course, it didn't help that during her nap this afternoon she decided to strip naked and take her diaper off (something she hasn't done in over a month) and decided to pee all over her her crib.
And I think I'm getting a cold.
***sigh***
Tomorrow will be a better day. I hope. :)
(Published as a part of PAIL Bloggers Memorable Moment Monday series. Click over and check out what others are sharing today.)
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Sunday Night Chit-Chat
Howdy Humble Readers...
Wow, what a week we've had around the hobbit hole. Teething, tantrums, a rather large police action less than a block away (that we still don't know any real details about) that involved what sounded like three blasts from a seriously big-a$$ gun, and then finding out that a friend was hospitalized with a serious bout of stomach flu. Crazy!
But now it's Sunday night and that means, Sunday Night Chit-Chat over at Carla's My 1/2 Dozen Daily.
 |
| Sleepy boy... with a fixation on his fingers! |
What are you:
Reading?
I'm about halfway through Order of the Phoenix, so a bit more than halfway through my annual Harry Potter reread. And my 'to read' list just keeps growing! I ordered my copy of A Casual Vacancy (Rowling) this week, and I've the advanced reader copy of the new Ken Follet mega-epic on my night stand. Zoiks!
Watching?
Nothing at the moment, but I'm planning on watching a mini-marathon of Once Upon A Time this evening. Gotta refresh my memory for the season opener coming up.
Baking/Cooking?
Dinner tonight was a new favourite. Super easy Chicken Verde over Salsa Rice with Black Bean Salad. Just throw 3-4 frozen chicken breasts in your slow cooker with a jar of salsa verde (tomatillo salsa), a tablespoon of cumin, and a tablespoon of chili powder. Cook on low for 6 hours or 3 hours on high. About halfway through the cooking time, add in a can of black beans (rinsed & drained) and a cup of frozen corn kernels. At the end of the cooking time, shred or break up the chicken breasts. Serve over rice (I cooked my rice in chicken stock and salsa) or quinoa. Not all that pretty to look at, but very very yummy.
Happy you accomplished this week?
Went through and reorganized Ginny & Pippin's closet and dressers, filled most of the holes in Ginny's fall/winter wardrobe at the consignment store, and took Ginny for a haircut. My wee sweet girl now has bangs (and I will post a pic as soon as I get a good one).
Looking forward to next week?
Making some progress on my Christmas crafting projects. I think I've decided on my hand-made gifts for this year, so combined with the projects that I really want to do... I've got to get my butt in gear.
Thankful for this week?
The generosity of people from our church. One lady gave us a belated baby gift for Pippin (a cute outfit that will fit him by Christmas) and another brought us a bookcase she's no longer using. I'm going to see if I can find a tutorial on painting laminated furniture, so that I can paint it to match our living room furniture. Any tips?
What is something you've been procrastinating on and really should just do it and get it over with already?
The baby books! I am so far behind on Ginny's and I haven't even started Pippin's yet. It's just so daunting. I'm thankful that I have this blog as a record (at least monthly) of their happenings.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Hobbit-ish Potpurri: Randomness Abounds
Howdy Humble Readers...
I hope that you're having a great day so far. We had a fun morning of playing and goofing around, and now, I'm happily watching an old episode of Gilmore Girls and listening to my wee little mister snore his heart out.
*****
From the stuff I wasn't warned about file: I'm in an odd place in terms of my post-pregnancy body. All my joints ache, particularly my hands, hips, knees, and ankles. This happened after Ginny, too, and I found it seems to be fairly common, but why does no one talk about it? It makes sense that we're warned that our tendons and ligaments stretch out and get all loosey-goosey during pregnancy, but why does no one talk about when those tendons and ligaments start going back to normal... the pain is making it difficult to sleep
And from the same file: Nerves and muscles in my abdomen must be on a new level of healing because there have been random twitches and small spasms that almost make it feel like there's a halfling still in there kicking. Bizarre!
*****
Exciting news for our hobbit-hole! A couple of weeks ago the condo board agreed that we need to replace the patio doors on four of the six units in our building, including ours! Yay! The window guy was here measuring last week, and hopefully we'll have new sliding glass doors before the snow flies! Ones with a screen door that actually slides open. I'm not picky tho... ;)
*****
I had a nightmare last night that I was being stalked by this crazy woman. She took over my blog and was posting all kinds of insane stuff saying she was me, and advertising porn sites from my online hobbit-hole. Writing it out here, it doesn't sound scary, only nuts, but trust me I was freaked out. I woke up just after 5 this morning shaking and with my heart racing. It took about an hour and a half to shake the creepy feeling, even with reading and watching a bit of a documentary about farmers markets on PBS.
*****
For all the work I did on the weekend to get the nursery ready to move Pippin in there, I haven't been able to do so yet. I keep telling myself that I'm concerned that he'll start waking in the night again and disturb Ginny. But really, I know I'm just lame.
*****
Sold another of the real baby items we had... the tummy-time mat. Pip is still doing tummy time of course, but we're actually working more on sitting up. With the bum.bo chair and the bouncer-exerciser thing, and the playpen, and Ginny's reading chair all in the living room, I was just getting a bit claustrophobic. I had to get rid of something. And we have a gazillion receiving blankets to use for tummy time, and they fold up where the tummy-time mat didn't (at least not easily). So why do I feel like crap for having sold it already?
I hope that you're having a great day so far. We had a fun morning of playing and goofing around, and now, I'm happily watching an old episode of Gilmore Girls and listening to my wee little mister snore his heart out.
*****
From the stuff I wasn't warned about file: I'm in an odd place in terms of my post-pregnancy body. All my joints ache, particularly my hands, hips, knees, and ankles. This happened after Ginny, too, and I found it seems to be fairly common, but why does no one talk about it? It makes sense that we're warned that our tendons and ligaments stretch out and get all loosey-goosey during pregnancy, but why does no one talk about when those tendons and ligaments start going back to normal... the pain is making it difficult to sleep
And from the same file: Nerves and muscles in my abdomen must be on a new level of healing because there have been random twitches and small spasms that almost make it feel like there's a halfling still in there kicking. Bizarre!
*****
Exciting news for our hobbit-hole! A couple of weeks ago the condo board agreed that we need to replace the patio doors on four of the six units in our building, including ours! Yay! The window guy was here measuring last week, and hopefully we'll have new sliding glass doors before the snow flies! Ones with a screen door that actually slides open. I'm not picky tho... ;)
*****
I had a nightmare last night that I was being stalked by this crazy woman. She took over my blog and was posting all kinds of insane stuff saying she was me, and advertising porn sites from my online hobbit-hole. Writing it out here, it doesn't sound scary, only nuts, but trust me I was freaked out. I woke up just after 5 this morning shaking and with my heart racing. It took about an hour and a half to shake the creepy feeling, even with reading and watching a bit of a documentary about farmers markets on PBS.
*****
For all the work I did on the weekend to get the nursery ready to move Pippin in there, I haven't been able to do so yet. I keep telling myself that I'm concerned that he'll start waking in the night again and disturb Ginny. But really, I know I'm just lame.
*****
Sold another of the real baby items we had... the tummy-time mat. Pip is still doing tummy time of course, but we're actually working more on sitting up. With the bum.bo chair and the bouncer-exerciser thing, and the playpen, and Ginny's reading chair all in the living room, I was just getting a bit claustrophobic. I had to get rid of something. And we have a gazillion receiving blankets to use for tummy time, and they fold up where the tummy-time mat didn't (at least not easily). So why do I feel like crap for having sold it already?
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Groovy Giveaway Opportunity!
Hey Humble Readers...
Carla over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is sponsoring a giveaway for a Lilla Rose Gift Certificate! Pop over and check it out (there's bunches and bunches of ways to enter...).
And check out the awesome collection of hair clips that Lilla Rose has to offer!
:)
(You guessed it, blogging about the giveaway is a way to enter the giveaway too.)
Carla over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is sponsoring a giveaway for a Lilla Rose Gift Certificate! Pop over and check it out (there's bunches and bunches of ways to enter...).
And check out the awesome collection of hair clips that Lilla Rose has to offer!
:)
(You guessed it, blogging about the giveaway is a way to enter the giveaway too.)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Why You Should Clean Your Oven Regularly
Hey Humble Readers...
Yesterday shaped up to be a day of minor injuries around the hobbit-hole.
First, my Beloved nicked his chin while shaving. Not a big deal, right?
Then, Ginny managed to get an angry red scratch on her arm, about an inch and a half long. Still not a big deal. A little poly-spor.in and she's on the mend.
Followed shortly thereafter by an oops while I was trimming Pippin's fingernails. A little wiggle at the wrong moment and I nipped his fingernail too short. A little dot of blood and a lot of wailing (on both our parts), and things were sunshiney again.
And then it was dinner time. Shepherd's pie. Yum! I turned on the broiler for the last five minutes to brown the top of the potatoes. Double yum!
When I opened the oven I remembered that I had just made yorkshire puddings on Sunday and that always leaves a mess in my oven from the oil over-flow (when I forget to put in a tray to catch the drips). Combine that with the fact that I haven't actually cleaned my oven in about four months.
Yeah, there was a fair bit of smoke coming out of my oven. Enough to set off the smoke detector in the hall. Not a big deal.
I went down the hall and was waving the oven mitts I had in my hand at the smoke detector (I'm too short to be able to hit the button). As I was doing this, I was talking to my Beloved, so I wasn't paying the closest attention.
As I was waving the oven mitts, they must have connected with the smoke detector, which must have not been reattached to it's base correctly after the last battery change.
All I know... one second I'm getting the smoke detector to shut off, and the next I'm holding my forehead and seeing stars. And behold, the smoke detector is on the floor, after bouncing off my noggin.
Now I'm sporting a lovely little bruise. (feel free to chuckle at my expense)
And that, Humble Readers, is why you should clean your oven regularly.
Yesterday shaped up to be a day of minor injuries around the hobbit-hole.
First, my Beloved nicked his chin while shaving. Not a big deal, right?
Then, Ginny managed to get an angry red scratch on her arm, about an inch and a half long. Still not a big deal. A little poly-spor.in and she's on the mend.
Followed shortly thereafter by an oops while I was trimming Pippin's fingernails. A little wiggle at the wrong moment and I nipped his fingernail too short. A little dot of blood and a lot of wailing (on both our parts), and things were sunshiney again.
And then it was dinner time. Shepherd's pie. Yum! I turned on the broiler for the last five minutes to brown the top of the potatoes. Double yum!
When I opened the oven I remembered that I had just made yorkshire puddings on Sunday and that always leaves a mess in my oven from the oil over-flow (when I forget to put in a tray to catch the drips). Combine that with the fact that I haven't actually cleaned my oven in about four months.
Yeah, there was a fair bit of smoke coming out of my oven. Enough to set off the smoke detector in the hall. Not a big deal.
I went down the hall and was waving the oven mitts I had in my hand at the smoke detector (I'm too short to be able to hit the button). As I was doing this, I was talking to my Beloved, so I wasn't paying the closest attention.
As I was waving the oven mitts, they must have connected with the smoke detector, which must have not been reattached to it's base correctly after the last battery change.
All I know... one second I'm getting the smoke detector to shut off, and the next I'm holding my forehead and seeing stars. And behold, the smoke detector is on the floor, after bouncing off my noggin.
Now I'm sporting a lovely little bruise. (feel free to chuckle at my expense)
And that, Humble Readers, is why you should clean your oven regularly.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Memorable Moment Monday & Opinions Needed
Hey Humble Readers...
I hope that your Labour Day (if it's Labour Day wherever you're at) is shaping up to be a nice one. Ours has been pretty good so far, as we have been able to get a few thing accomplished that have been nagging on me.
I was able to go through both Ginny & Pip's wardrobes to pack away things that no longer fit or are no longer seasonal while my Beloved took Ginny to the park. Pippin is pretty well set for clothes for the next six months, and all I need to get for Ginny is a couple of pairs of jeans and one or two sets of pjs.
Soon it will be time to move our wee little mister from the cradle in our room, into his crib in the nursery. I'm hoping that the transition will go smoothly for both he and Ginny. The nursery is small, so we don't have much room to work with in terms of layout and I confess I'm a bit concerned about having the cribs side by side. We'll see how it goes.
(Posted as part of PAIL Bloggers' Memorable Moment bloghop.)
*****
Ok... anyone know much about computer viruses?
I have known that Beauregard (yes, my puter has a name) has been suffering with a virus for some time now. Back in the spring, I went for a couple of days between the end of my free trial of McAfee that came with this computer when we got it and when we were able to load some new software, and I'm pretty sure that's when it hit. I know it's got some elements of a redirect virus (I've had one of those before) along with pop-ups (some of which are nasty). Particularly irksome is the fact that the anti-virus software I have doesn't recognize that there's a virus on my computer.
Anyway, today the sound has just stopped working on my computer. Headphones don't work, speakers don't work. Is it possible for a virus to mess with the sound?
I don't use sound a lot, but Ginny watches youtube clips of Sesame Street on this computer and Elmo without his voice just doesn't cut it.
I know I need to take Beauregard to the computer doctor, and the thought of that actually makes me kind of sick to my stomach because of the cost. But I don't want to let this go any longer and cause more problems. Ugh... and just the idea of being without my computer for a week is icky!
I hope that your Labour Day (if it's Labour Day wherever you're at) is shaping up to be a nice one. Ours has been pretty good so far, as we have been able to get a few thing accomplished that have been nagging on me.
 |
| Sorting Ginny's clothes |
 |
| Pip's first nap in the crib |
(Posted as part of PAIL Bloggers' Memorable Moment bloghop.)
*****
Ok... anyone know much about computer viruses?
I have known that Beauregard (yes, my puter has a name) has been suffering with a virus for some time now. Back in the spring, I went for a couple of days between the end of my free trial of McAfee that came with this computer when we got it and when we were able to load some new software, and I'm pretty sure that's when it hit. I know it's got some elements of a redirect virus (I've had one of those before) along with pop-ups (some of which are nasty). Particularly irksome is the fact that the anti-virus software I have doesn't recognize that there's a virus on my computer.
Anyway, today the sound has just stopped working on my computer. Headphones don't work, speakers don't work. Is it possible for a virus to mess with the sound?
I don't use sound a lot, but Ginny watches youtube clips of Sesame Street on this computer and Elmo without his voice just doesn't cut it.
I know I need to take Beauregard to the computer doctor, and the thought of that actually makes me kind of sick to my stomach because of the cost. But I don't want to let this go any longer and cause more problems. Ugh... and just the idea of being without my computer for a week is icky!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Sunday Night Chit Chat: Long Weekend Edition
Howdy Humble Readers...
Are you having a good long weekend? Are you busy with back-to-school details, household projects, or are you kickin' back and relaxing? We've been doing a little bit of work around the hobbit-hole and a little bit of relaxing. It's always nice to have some extra family time.
I'm participating in Carla's Sunday Night Chit Chat again, and I encourage you to click over and see what everyone else is up to tonight (after you read my contribution of course!).
Reading?
Finished an amazing book last night... "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachael Joyce. A wonderful novel about a retired man who decides that, to save an old friend from cancer, he must walk the 600+ miles between his home and the hospice where she lives. It's a story of rediscovery, forgiveness, absolution, and hope. Now I'm back into my Harry Potter re-read (Just started Order of the Phoenix). Can I just say, I'm so glad that I can read again? It was like pregancy somehow made my attention span shrink. I haven't read this fast in ages (two books last week) and I'm loving it!
Watching?
Right now, a rerun of How I Met Your Mother is on, but it's just background noise. After Ginny goes to bed, I'm planning on watching "Eat Pray Love" (I recorded it last night).
Listening to?
Our wee little mister sucking on his fist. My Beloved playing with our wee sweet girl.
Cooking/Baking?
Dinner tonight was a pork roast glazed with dijon mustard and brown sugar, mashed potatoes, along with some steamed veggies, and Yorkshire puddings. Earlier this week I had a major triumph. Sesame salmon with sriracha cream sauce, oven roasted baby potatoes (the best I've ever made) and roasted asparagus. It was for my Beloved's birthday dinner and it was awesome! I also made a pretty cool poke-cake (cookies & cream).
Happy you accomplished this week?
I was able to surprise my Beloved with a night out for his birthday (dinner & a movie, kids left with a sitter), and then a family birthday dinner the next night. I think I succeeded in spoiling him.
Looking forward to next week?
Getting a few things done around the hobbit-hole... going through closets and dressers, possibly rearranging the nursery in anticipation of moving Pippin in with Ginny, posting a couple things on Kijiji for sale.
Thankful for today?
Have I mentioned that I've found my reading mojo????? Ok, I did. But I don't know if you understand how important this is to me. Reading has been a major part of my life since I was 4. It has been my escape, my continuing education, my entertainment, and my joy for almost all my life. Heck, it was my career for 10 years. The last couple of years, since I was pregnant with Ginny, my ability to focus on reading a novel has gotten progressively worse and worse, until this past fall when I was actually unable to read a manuscript for a writer-friend, even though I desparately wanted to. Things have been slowly getting better over the past few months, but this is the first inkling of my old book-loving self. I used to read upwards of 17 or 18 books a month. Recent history has shown me reading one book a month. This has been a major stressor for me, like a loss of part of myself. And now it's making a reappearance. Yay!
Do you collect anything? Purple elephants, unicorns, etc... ;)
Nativity sets (currently own 10 or 11), books (occupational hazard), and lip balm (mostly because I never remember to make sure I have one before I leave the house, and end up needing to buy another. I am a chapstick addict...)
Are you having a good long weekend? Are you busy with back-to-school details, household projects, or are you kickin' back and relaxing? We've been doing a little bit of work around the hobbit-hole and a little bit of relaxing. It's always nice to have some extra family time.
I'm participating in Carla's Sunday Night Chit Chat again, and I encourage you to click over and see what everyone else is up to tonight (after you read my contribution of course!).
 |
| Like Daddy. like daughter |
Reading?
Finished an amazing book last night... "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachael Joyce. A wonderful novel about a retired man who decides that, to save an old friend from cancer, he must walk the 600+ miles between his home and the hospice where she lives. It's a story of rediscovery, forgiveness, absolution, and hope. Now I'm back into my Harry Potter re-read (Just started Order of the Phoenix). Can I just say, I'm so glad that I can read again? It was like pregancy somehow made my attention span shrink. I haven't read this fast in ages (two books last week) and I'm loving it!
Watching?
Right now, a rerun of How I Met Your Mother is on, but it's just background noise. After Ginny goes to bed, I'm planning on watching "Eat Pray Love" (I recorded it last night).
Listening to?
Our wee little mister sucking on his fist. My Beloved playing with our wee sweet girl.
Cooking/Baking?
Dinner tonight was a pork roast glazed with dijon mustard and brown sugar, mashed potatoes, along with some steamed veggies, and Yorkshire puddings. Earlier this week I had a major triumph. Sesame salmon with sriracha cream sauce, oven roasted baby potatoes (the best I've ever made) and roasted asparagus. It was for my Beloved's birthday dinner and it was awesome! I also made a pretty cool poke-cake (cookies & cream).
Happy you accomplished this week?
I was able to surprise my Beloved with a night out for his birthday (dinner & a movie, kids left with a sitter), and then a family birthday dinner the next night. I think I succeeded in spoiling him.
Looking forward to next week?
Getting a few things done around the hobbit-hole... going through closets and dressers, possibly rearranging the nursery in anticipation of moving Pippin in with Ginny, posting a couple things on Kijiji for sale.
Thankful for today?
Have I mentioned that I've found my reading mojo????? Ok, I did. But I don't know if you understand how important this is to me. Reading has been a major part of my life since I was 4. It has been my escape, my continuing education, my entertainment, and my joy for almost all my life. Heck, it was my career for 10 years. The last couple of years, since I was pregnant with Ginny, my ability to focus on reading a novel has gotten progressively worse and worse, until this past fall when I was actually unable to read a manuscript for a writer-friend, even though I desparately wanted to. Things have been slowly getting better over the past few months, but this is the first inkling of my old book-loving self. I used to read upwards of 17 or 18 books a month. Recent history has shown me reading one book a month. This has been a major stressor for me, like a loss of part of myself. And now it's making a reappearance. Yay!
Do you collect anything? Purple elephants, unicorns, etc... ;)
Nativity sets (currently own 10 or 11), books (occupational hazard), and lip balm (mostly because I never remember to make sure I have one before I leave the house, and end up needing to buy another. I am a chapstick addict...)
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Observations of a Grumpy Hobbit
Hey Humble Readers...
I don't know if it's because it's September (I always get a little bit cranky as the anniversary of my nativity approaches), or because we've been trying to squeeze a few more dollars out of our budget, or just a tad bit of lingering hormonal changes (my hair has only just started falling out post-pregnancy, and my skin is going through yet another transition... aka more acne). Whatever it is, I've been a bit of a grump the past few days.
I have been watchful for signs of PPD, but so far nothing as serious as after I stopped bf-ing Ginny. I'm just grumpy. Hoping it passes soon.
But because of the grumpies, I've been noticing a lot of little annoyances lately. Can you relate to any of these?
I don't know if it's because it's September (I always get a little bit cranky as the anniversary of my nativity approaches), or because we've been trying to squeeze a few more dollars out of our budget, or just a tad bit of lingering hormonal changes (my hair has only just started falling out post-pregnancy, and my skin is going through yet another transition... aka more acne). Whatever it is, I've been a bit of a grump the past few days.
I have been watchful for signs of PPD, but so far nothing as serious as after I stopped bf-ing Ginny. I'm just grumpy. Hoping it passes soon.
But because of the grumpies, I've been noticing a lot of little annoyances lately. Can you relate to any of these?
- Why don't all websites have that handy little 'scroll to top' button that lives on my Pinterest screen? It would be so handy, particularly on long blog posts where the comment link is at the top.
- I love grocery shopping. It gets me out of the house, on my own, for a little while every week. And yet, I have come to despise grocery stores, or rather the people in them. Clerks who bag my groceries in the most nonsensical manner possible, shoppers who feel the need to ram the back of my ankles with their cart, and store employees who park their massive pallets of boxes in front of the one stretch of shelving where my needed item resides.
- Also grocery related... a store offering certain products seasonally, when there really is nothing at all seasonal about the product. I have recently fallen in love with a couple of new condiments (sofrito and caramelized onion jam... and if you're Canadian you likely know what store I shop at) and they are only going to be available during the summer months. Grrr...
- Last grocery shopping annoyance (I promise)... when the store changes their layout. I've worked in retail, I know the deal, but really... Did Cost.co really need to hide the pork chops on me? Really?
- Captcha codes. Need I say more? (and to my knowledge, I don't have them activated on this blog, but for the love of pete, if I'm forcing you to try to decipher nonsensical blurry words, please let me know. I will do everything in my power to remove them.)
- Going to the movies and only seeing one good preview out of three. I know, they're just commercials, but I love the anticipation, the wondering what might be coming out that I haven't heard of yet.
- Getting an invite to the wedding of a distant cousin (as in, I've only been in the same room with her three times in my life).
- Fitted sheets that don't stay on the mattress.
- The fact that I just spent a lot of time on Thursday cleaning my house, and now, two days later, my living room is dusty again.
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