I seem to be hearing it a lot these days -- we hate you, I hate you.....but why? Or at least, why now? If they hated me before it was different. They don't really hate me though. Hate is such a strong word isn't it?
Apparently this who labor, delivery, & post-partnum thing I have and am going through is not the same experience that others have.
They hate me because I was only at the hospital for less than 3.5 hours before I had the baby in my arms. They hate me because I only had to push for 16 minutes. Did they have me for morning "all-day" sickness for 18 weeks? I don't think so.
They hate me because I don't look like I just gave birth less than 2 weeks ago. Actually, I am soft & squishy in the middle, but honestly, I do not look like I just gave birth. I was all prepared to still look 5-6 months pregnant. But that just isn't the case. But what I want to know was did they hate me when I was watching my food intake and making sure I had a balanced diet with lots of fruit, veggies, & whole grains? Did they hate me when I was going out for a walk several times a week?
They hate me because only a couple days after delivery we were out taking a short walk with the baby in the stroller. Again, did they hate me when I was walking during pregnancy? Did they hate me when I was practicing my kegels?
I have this suspicion that people didn't hate me when I was was working hard to take care of myself so that now things aren't as bad as they had experienced. Or maybe it is all attitude, maybe they look back and hate certain aspects of their experience and that is what they hate, it's not me, it's their experience that they hate.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The Happy, Exhausted Family
So, here is one picture. Mom's friend Jessi took it when she came to visit us on Sunday. From this angle, you can't quite get the grasp of the bags I have under my eyes. She's such a good, cute baby.
Welcome Isabel Grace!
I just had a baby. So, this blog may get ignored & neglected a bit. Mom & baby both need their rest. My friend Jessi took this picture when she visited us at the hospital on Sunday night. We all acme home on Monday afternoon.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Vinegar & Olive Oil
Nope - not talking about making salad dressing.
I just thought I woul share a little tip for getting white rings off wood furniture. I found a website that listed a who bunch of tricks to getting those nasty white water rings off wood furniture because I had 2 on my dining room table. Many of the tips seemed too abrasive or I did not have the ingredients for or it took quite a bit of time. So, I went with what I had and it worked perfectly.
Just mix small amounts of equal parts of olive oil (I suppose you could use any oil) and white vinegar. Rub into wood with a cloth. Rub off excess oil residue and Ta Da! The white ring is gone and all it took was 30 seconds of your time.
I was impressed.
I just thought I woul share a little tip for getting white rings off wood furniture. I found a website that listed a who bunch of tricks to getting those nasty white water rings off wood furniture because I had 2 on my dining room table. Many of the tips seemed too abrasive or I did not have the ingredients for or it took quite a bit of time. So, I went with what I had and it worked perfectly.
Just mix small amounts of equal parts of olive oil (I suppose you could use any oil) and white vinegar. Rub into wood with a cloth. Rub off excess oil residue and Ta Da! The white ring is gone and all it took was 30 seconds of your time.
I was impressed.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Kudos for an eBay Seller!
I have made no secret of my addiction to eBay. I have bought several items from Celtic Folk Herbals. I have never given my kudos on my blog before to an eBay seller before, but I am this time. She sells handmade herbal prodcuts. She uses quality ingredients. I have bought from her several different times and just got another shipment today. Before I just bought lip balms and I really like them and each time she has included an additional free one. This time I bought some Mommy Belly Balm to use on my pregnant belly & afterward. I haven't used it yet, as the postwoman just dropped it off, but this time she gave me another free lip balm & a free sample of jamine glycerin soap. I have used the lip balms already and do like them a lot. So, if you want to or likes to use natural products, you should check out her eBay store. Happy Shopping!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Da Vinci Code Movie
If I make it to Friday and do not have a baby, I want to go see The Da Vinci Code. Like a lot of people, I really enjoyed the book and also read the Angels & Demons as well. The movie opens on Friday, although when I looked for showtimes the theater I would probably go to said that due to filmmakers restrictions they can't do a midnight show, so it looks like the earliest I could do would be a noon showing. I do know if I buy tickets for the show that I will end having my baby. I think that could be worth $15 - to tempt fate and have that baby or if not, I get to see a movie.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Hmmmmm....Interesting....
I watched Dr. Know today (2 episodes).
On the first episode, they tested the 5-second rule. They tested shrimp, canteloupe, & a jelly bean in a variety of locations, including: park, sidewalk, mall floor, kitchen floor, & home carpet. They found eColi on the shrimp & canteloupe in ALL locations, but there was more on the inside locations (which they attribute to sunlight, which kills the eColi in the outside locations.) The only place the jelly bean picked up some eColi was in the park, which they attribute to wet grass making the jelly beans suseptible to picking up bacteria, otherwise the other locations the jelly bean remained dry & free of eColi.
The other thing they tested was whether or not dog's mouths are cleaner than human. What they found was that both human and dogs had loads of bateria in their mouths, but some of that bacteria in the dogs mouth are pathogenic to humans. They also tested whether or not the bacteria had antiseptic properties and they foudn that in both humans and dogs the saliva had a little bit of antiseptic properties.
On the 2nd show the first thing they tested was whether or not listening to loud music @ a concert damages your hearing. If you ask Andy about this one, he will tell you yes. He was a drummer growing up and was in high school band, in bands, and also was in Chop, Inc. After years of exposure to loud sounds, he is left with ringing in his ears. I had to get used to sleeping with a fan on so that he had white noise when we would sleep, otherwise the ringing in his ears would drive him nuts and keep him from sleeping. They found that the people with the $100 earplugs and the 99-cent ear plugs had no hearing loss, but the person with no ear plugs had hearing loss in high frequencies for 2-days, but this could become more permanent if the exposure is continued overtime.
The next thing they tested was whether or not sitting too long in front of the tv is bad for your eyes. They also tested it in front of a computer screen - both for 4 hours. They found that there was no damage to eyes of either person after 4 hours of constant viewing. It can cause eye strain, but not eye damage. They said there is no connection between eye strain & long-term eye damage.
I kinda like the show. It's interesting to see them de-bunk or prove the common myths.
On the first episode, they tested the 5-second rule. They tested shrimp, canteloupe, & a jelly bean in a variety of locations, including: park, sidewalk, mall floor, kitchen floor, & home carpet. They found eColi on the shrimp & canteloupe in ALL locations, but there was more on the inside locations (which they attribute to sunlight, which kills the eColi in the outside locations.) The only place the jelly bean picked up some eColi was in the park, which they attribute to wet grass making the jelly beans suseptible to picking up bacteria, otherwise the other locations the jelly bean remained dry & free of eColi.
The other thing they tested was whether or not dog's mouths are cleaner than human. What they found was that both human and dogs had loads of bateria in their mouths, but some of that bacteria in the dogs mouth are pathogenic to humans. They also tested whether or not the bacteria had antiseptic properties and they foudn that in both humans and dogs the saliva had a little bit of antiseptic properties.
On the 2nd show the first thing they tested was whether or not listening to loud music @ a concert damages your hearing. If you ask Andy about this one, he will tell you yes. He was a drummer growing up and was in high school band, in bands, and also was in Chop, Inc. After years of exposure to loud sounds, he is left with ringing in his ears. I had to get used to sleeping with a fan on so that he had white noise when we would sleep, otherwise the ringing in his ears would drive him nuts and keep him from sleeping. They found that the people with the $100 earplugs and the 99-cent ear plugs had no hearing loss, but the person with no ear plugs had hearing loss in high frequencies for 2-days, but this could become more permanent if the exposure is continued overtime.
The next thing they tested was whether or not sitting too long in front of the tv is bad for your eyes. They also tested it in front of a computer screen - both for 4 hours. They found that there was no damage to eyes of either person after 4 hours of constant viewing. It can cause eye strain, but not eye damage. They said there is no connection between eye strain & long-term eye damage.
I kinda like the show. It's interesting to see them de-bunk or prove the common myths.
Funny Cats
Andy sent me this link to a video about funny cats. I laughed so hard. We like watching funny animal videos. We watch funny animal videos on Animal Planet whenever we can.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Finally! A Use for all those C Batteries!
For some reason, over the years, I have accumulated a supply of C batteries. But the problem is that we didn't have anything that used them and it never really dawned on me before.
I remember that as a kid most toys or my boombox took C batteries. Now nothing takes C batteries.
But I just bought a travel infant swing off of eBay and received it today and opened the battery area and saw these AA batteries in there that didn't quite fit (and probably didn't work out too well for the previous owners as the AA batteries would slip out of the spaces). I thought to myself - this looks like it shoud fit C batteries. Sure enough - C batteries are the perfect battery.
Hooray! I now have a use for 4 C batteries (although I think I have about 16 more in the battery box.)
I remember that as a kid most toys or my boombox took C batteries. Now nothing takes C batteries.
But I just bought a travel infant swing off of eBay and received it today and opened the battery area and saw these AA batteries in there that didn't quite fit (and probably didn't work out too well for the previous owners as the AA batteries would slip out of the spaces). I thought to myself - this looks like it shoud fit C batteries. Sure enough - C batteries are the perfect battery.
Hooray! I now have a use for 4 C batteries (although I think I have about 16 more in the battery box.)
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Well, That Sucks!
Bah! American Idol has pissed me off. Chris is gone? How could they? I thought he from the beginning and all along would end up being the winner.
Kat should have been kicked off so many times already. And each week that she squeaks through she looks surprised - because she knows she should have gone home.
Now I just don't know who is going to win. I'm not sure I care that much anymore. I do like Taylor, but I don't think he has the image to make it big or the sound. I certainly don't think Elliot has the image or the sound either. Maybe Kat could, but she isn't very consistent in her performances.
I still think that Chris will get a record deal out of this and will be the one fom this season to actually go somewhere.
BTW - I think Chris is hot!, but I like his sound as well.
Kat should have been kicked off so many times already. And each week that she squeaks through she looks surprised - because she knows she should have gone home.
Now I just don't know who is going to win. I'm not sure I care that much anymore. I do like Taylor, but I don't think he has the image to make it big or the sound. I certainly don't think Elliot has the image or the sound either. Maybe Kat could, but she isn't very consistent in her performances.
I still think that Chris will get a record deal out of this and will be the one fom this season to actually go somewhere.
BTW - I think Chris is hot!, but I like his sound as well.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Growing Up Around Bars
So, today, as I drove to Northfield (read about on baby blog) and I was flipping radio stations I came across "I've Got Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks and it took me back to memories of my 9th grade year and hanging out with some friends at Katie's parents bar and the song playing on the jukebox and everyone singing & playing pool.
It was really not a big deal to be hanging out in the bar, not to anyone.
And then I started to think more about growing up around bars. When we were little we used to scour the house for any money we could find (but we didn't have a lot, so finding any loose change was hard to come by) and walk down the road to the 5 Corners Bar (it's a counry bar). Now, we didn't go in there to hangout or anything. We were pretty much in & out -- but they sold penny candy FOR A PENNY. So, if you managed to earn a dollar you could walk out with this bag of 100 pieces of candy. It was excellent. Even finding 15 cents was worth the walk down to the bar.
Now, in rural WI, most bars also doubled as restaurants and on Friday nights YOU WENT OUT FOR FISH. So, seeing people sitting at the bar getting drunk as you ate your fish with your family at a table was not a big deal. It was just part of everything and you never thought twice about it. And if your tables wasn't ready yet, you were bellied up the bar with your parents. Now, of course we were just having pop & so were my parents (I don't think they ever really had a drink in front of us until I was my freshman year in college.)
The other thing is that I have an aunt (now passed away) & uncle (still owns it) who ran a bar. I can't remember how old I was when they bought it, I'm think junior high sometime......but hanging out in their bar - not a big deal.
The interesting thing is I was never tempted to drink. I probably had a sip of beer when I was little and hated it, but what I hated even more was giving family members hugs who reeked of beer. I just did not like the smell on their breath. And in rural NE WI - you drink beer or old fashioneds. That's it. Go there sometime and you'll see....I would say 90% of the beverages served there are cheap domestic beer or old fashioneds - have you ever seen anyone order an old fashioned anywhere else - maybe you don't even know what one is. If you don't - take a trip north of Green Bay and you'll find out. Don't try ordering a Mojito - they will have know clue what you are talking about, or a Cosmopoliton - they maybe be abe to piece together the ingredients with your guidance, but it sure won't be top shelf. Although one good thing of the bars in NE WI is that they will have some top shelf liqour and they rarely have an upcharge for it, if they do it may just be a quarter.
So, back to drinking. I don't think I tried any alcohol until towards the end of my senior year in high school. I know it's not because my friends didn't drink, they just knew I wasn't interested and didn't even ask. How's that for avoiding peer pressure, they didn't even bother trying as they knew what the answer would be. But in my senior year I worked with some college students at a restaurant and they introduced me to Schnapps......I didn't even know such a thing existed....it was liqour that when added with kool-aid (which is what they did) tasted just like kool-aid. No smelly beer or yucky brandy.....nice fruity stuff. I didn't really do a lot of drinking those last couple of months, I was still too responsible to have more than 1-2 drinks, and I never drove home (one girl lived in that town with her parents and we stayed there.) But my senior prom was a different story - my high school friends were pretty surprised I wanted to drink with them as we partied the night away. I got pretty drunk for the first time and gave the keys to my car to a friend's 15-year old brother with a learner's permit (actually, I think we had several 15-year old's with learners permits at that party. They could come hang out with us as long as they had nothing to drink and drove us back from the cabin in the country to a house in town that we were crashing at.)
So, the moral of the story here is - only expose your kids to crappy smelling & tasting liqours while at the same time teaching them to be responsible if they do drink (actually, I dont think I was ever told to be responsible if I drink - I was just told NOT TO DRINK and told horror stories of people my parents knew or went to high school with that dies or lost body parts because of drinking.) So, let's revise the moral of the story. Only expose your kids to crappy smelling & tasting liquors and scare the hell out of them with stories of death and dismemberment related to alcohol comsumption.
It was really not a big deal to be hanging out in the bar, not to anyone.
And then I started to think more about growing up around bars. When we were little we used to scour the house for any money we could find (but we didn't have a lot, so finding any loose change was hard to come by) and walk down the road to the 5 Corners Bar (it's a counry bar). Now, we didn't go in there to hangout or anything. We were pretty much in & out -- but they sold penny candy FOR A PENNY. So, if you managed to earn a dollar you could walk out with this bag of 100 pieces of candy. It was excellent. Even finding 15 cents was worth the walk down to the bar.
Now, in rural WI, most bars also doubled as restaurants and on Friday nights YOU WENT OUT FOR FISH. So, seeing people sitting at the bar getting drunk as you ate your fish with your family at a table was not a big deal. It was just part of everything and you never thought twice about it. And if your tables wasn't ready yet, you were bellied up the bar with your parents. Now, of course we were just having pop & so were my parents (I don't think they ever really had a drink in front of us until I was my freshman year in college.)
The other thing is that I have an aunt (now passed away) & uncle (still owns it) who ran a bar. I can't remember how old I was when they bought it, I'm think junior high sometime......but hanging out in their bar - not a big deal.
The interesting thing is I was never tempted to drink. I probably had a sip of beer when I was little and hated it, but what I hated even more was giving family members hugs who reeked of beer. I just did not like the smell on their breath. And in rural NE WI - you drink beer or old fashioneds. That's it. Go there sometime and you'll see....I would say 90% of the beverages served there are cheap domestic beer or old fashioneds - have you ever seen anyone order an old fashioned anywhere else - maybe you don't even know what one is. If you don't - take a trip north of Green Bay and you'll find out. Don't try ordering a Mojito - they will have know clue what you are talking about, or a Cosmopoliton - they maybe be abe to piece together the ingredients with your guidance, but it sure won't be top shelf. Although one good thing of the bars in NE WI is that they will have some top shelf liqour and they rarely have an upcharge for it, if they do it may just be a quarter.
So, back to drinking. I don't think I tried any alcohol until towards the end of my senior year in high school. I know it's not because my friends didn't drink, they just knew I wasn't interested and didn't even ask. How's that for avoiding peer pressure, they didn't even bother trying as they knew what the answer would be. But in my senior year I worked with some college students at a restaurant and they introduced me to Schnapps......I didn't even know such a thing existed....it was liqour that when added with kool-aid (which is what they did) tasted just like kool-aid. No smelly beer or yucky brandy.....nice fruity stuff. I didn't really do a lot of drinking those last couple of months, I was still too responsible to have more than 1-2 drinks, and I never drove home (one girl lived in that town with her parents and we stayed there.) But my senior prom was a different story - my high school friends were pretty surprised I wanted to drink with them as we partied the night away. I got pretty drunk for the first time and gave the keys to my car to a friend's 15-year old brother with a learner's permit (actually, I think we had several 15-year old's with learners permits at that party. They could come hang out with us as long as they had nothing to drink and drove us back from the cabin in the country to a house in town that we were crashing at.)
So, the moral of the story here is - only expose your kids to crappy smelling & tasting liqours while at the same time teaching them to be responsible if they do drink (actually, I dont think I was ever told to be responsible if I drink - I was just told NOT TO DRINK and told horror stories of people my parents knew or went to high school with that dies or lost body parts because of drinking.) So, let's revise the moral of the story. Only expose your kids to crappy smelling & tasting liquors and scare the hell out of them with stories of death and dismemberment related to alcohol comsumption.
Odd Sighting....
So, I'm driving home and I spy a grandma & grandpa type couple driving red minivan -- ok, nothing odd here because so far I am desccribing my in-laws.
Ok, next I notice (as they are passing me) that they have handicap plates....ok, not all that odd either....but it is the motorcycle dolly with 2-seater Harley (also with handicap plates) that they are pulling that I find odd. The Harley just doesn't fit in the picture.
My in-laws don't have handicap plates or anything, but I just don't see them riding around on a Harley (or even getting all dressed in leather for that matter.) Actually, the image of my MIL dressed in all leather weather a helmet riding bitch makes me laugh.
Ok, next I notice (as they are passing me) that they have handicap plates....ok, not all that odd either....but it is the motorcycle dolly with 2-seater Harley (also with handicap plates) that they are pulling that I find odd. The Harley just doesn't fit in the picture.
My in-laws don't have handicap plates or anything, but I just don't see them riding around on a Harley (or even getting all dressed in leather for that matter.) Actually, the image of my MIL dressed in all leather weather a helmet riding bitch makes me laugh.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Gardening Stuff
We put some more layers on the lasagna garden. Before we had leaves & grass layers, now we added layers of ask, wood shreddings, and compost. Topped it all off with water and covered it to let it cook. We'll let it cook for a couple weeks and then it should also be warm enough to start planting vegetables.
Also, weeded my flower beds, planted another rhododendron with purple flowers by the other ones, a new Asiatic lily plant, a new rose bush, and a hydrangea bush.
Andy got the baby's tree, a red maple, planted and also put fertilizer and weed control stuff on the grass.
It's nice to have all that stuff done.
Also, weeded my flower beds, planted another rhododendron with purple flowers by the other ones, a new Asiatic lily plant, a new rose bush, and a hydrangea bush.
Andy got the baby's tree, a red maple, planted and also put fertilizer and weed control stuff on the grass.
It's nice to have all that stuff done.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Rainy Weekend
What a rainy weekend!
Friday night the in-laws came over and we had dinner and then went to a play. It was a cute play. Good dinner, which you can see on my food blog.
Saturday - Andy's brother Chris came down and they worked on the project Omni. They actually got it running and drove it around. I never thought I would see the day that things would actually start, let alone drive down the street. I did little projects around the house to get ready for baby, laundry, and more cooking. I like to cook.
Sunday - went to Fleet Farm and bought some seedlings & plants I wanted. I have the seedlings in my little greenhouse thing so that when it is time to plant I have them and I don't have to run out and get them with either baby in tow or a huge belly yet. Then, more laundry - washing everything to get ready for baby. Then we went to Baby Gap and Babies'r'Us in the Cities and finally to service at HOM, and then food from Dominos (which I won't be doing again in the next few weeks.....all that salt made my fingers and toes sweel up to look like overstuffed sausages -- the salt didn't bother me before, just started in the last few days.) and also got ice cream from Coldstone Creamery (Yummy!, Got the "Founder's Favorite" mixture of pecans, fudge topping, carmel topping, & brownie.) Then we came home and watched Tico'ed Sopranos & Entourage. I have to be careful what I watch just before I go to bed, as I sometimes dream about it. Last night I was dreaming I had my own "Entourage" and some was yelling "Who's in charge of her food and menus? Who the fuck let her eat all that salt? Someone better fucking take care of this. Call Artie and take care of this." It kinda made me chuckle that I was dreaming of having my own pregnancy entourage.
Today I have a Dr. appt, then will go pick up the tree & accessories we have for that (we're planting a tree for the baby). Tomorrow we sign the purchase agreement to get new windows put in the nursery & kitchen (freaking expensive, but necessary) and I am getting maternity photos taken tomorrow afternoon (supposed to be a nice, warm, sunny day). Wednesday is my last day teaching my class for the community college, time to get their final papers and give out final grades. I think this Sunday we are going to go to St. Paul to the Living Green Expo and then we'll go to HOM.
Friday night the in-laws came over and we had dinner and then went to a play. It was a cute play. Good dinner, which you can see on my food blog.
Saturday - Andy's brother Chris came down and they worked on the project Omni. They actually got it running and drove it around. I never thought I would see the day that things would actually start, let alone drive down the street. I did little projects around the house to get ready for baby, laundry, and more cooking. I like to cook.
Sunday - went to Fleet Farm and bought some seedlings & plants I wanted. I have the seedlings in my little greenhouse thing so that when it is time to plant I have them and I don't have to run out and get them with either baby in tow or a huge belly yet. Then, more laundry - washing everything to get ready for baby. Then we went to Baby Gap and Babies'r'Us in the Cities and finally to service at HOM, and then food from Dominos (which I won't be doing again in the next few weeks.....all that salt made my fingers and toes sweel up to look like overstuffed sausages -- the salt didn't bother me before, just started in the last few days.) and also got ice cream from Coldstone Creamery (Yummy!, Got the "Founder's Favorite" mixture of pecans, fudge topping, carmel topping, & brownie.) Then we came home and watched Tico'ed Sopranos & Entourage. I have to be careful what I watch just before I go to bed, as I sometimes dream about it. Last night I was dreaming I had my own "Entourage" and some was yelling "Who's in charge of her food and menus? Who the fuck let her eat all that salt? Someone better fucking take care of this. Call Artie and take care of this." It kinda made me chuckle that I was dreaming of having my own pregnancy entourage.
Today I have a Dr. appt, then will go pick up the tree & accessories we have for that (we're planting a tree for the baby). Tomorrow we sign the purchase agreement to get new windows put in the nursery & kitchen (freaking expensive, but necessary) and I am getting maternity photos taken tomorrow afternoon (supposed to be a nice, warm, sunny day). Wednesday is my last day teaching my class for the community college, time to get their final papers and give out final grades. I think this Sunday we are going to go to St. Paul to the Living Green Expo and then we'll go to HOM.
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