Monday, May 30, 2011

Bell Choir Float

The real reason for Memorial Day: remember those who served and sacrificed. [Blaine's great grandpa is in the back row, wearing blue].


Call me strange, but for some reason it has been one of my dreams in life to be on a float in a parade while playing bells. If you've never seen a handbell choir, they traditionally play in churches, while standing at tables. I've played in my church's handbell choir since 3rd grade! And I looooooove parades. I had the opportunity to voice my idea this year, and most thought I was crazy but they were on board! Only 8 of the 13 of us were in town today, so we picked two songs that would work (America the Beautiful and Battle Hymn of the Republic). I thought it was going to be a rinky dink, small parade but it ended up being huge! Over 70 units and the route took about 45 minutes to complete. Perfect! Blaine watched from the sidelines with his two grandmas. The best part of the video is how excited his great grandma was to see him; shouting "HI" and still keeping up with playing and directing. ;)



Most floats were throwing candy but one threw out popcicles! Who knew it would be 89 degrees at 10 AM in Ohio in May?!!

Tuckered out!!


Sunday, May 29, 2011

High Five, Happy Baby

I didn't want to only have a grumpy baby video. Had to follow up with something a little more happy. :)

Drama King

I felt bad video taping this but honestly, we will look back and laugh at this kid one day. I NEVER REALIZED A 10 MONTH OLD COULD HAVE SUCH A TEMPER AND BE SO OPINIONATED! I literally set him down for 5 seconds to grab something I couldn't reach while holding him. This is the result.



Funny but frustrating! This kid pretty much will "turn it off" the minute you pick him back up. He cries like this EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I have to make dinner or do the dishes! Gah. People try to tell me it is one of these reasons:

A) He's the first child thus
B) We spoil him by holding him too much
C) He always gets his way because I'm a stay-at-home mom
or
D) He's got a redhead's personality


----

It is pretty much my goal in life to NOT raise a spoiled child. By how did I go wrong so soon? Just by holding him and cuddling with him too much?!! Will he outgrow this?! It is really hard to get things done when he's screaming his head off. He won't sit in shopping carts, strollers [for more than 10 minutes], playground swings, highchairs in restaurants, or carseats [for more than 10 minutes] without THROWING A FIT.

Help!!

Friday, May 27, 2011

On Weaning.....

As the 1 year mark grows near my mind again wondering about weaning. My main concern right now? MORNING WAKEUP TIME! Once weaned, I'm pretty sure Blaine will get up in the morning at an ungodly early hour and will not go back to sleep. As it is now, he wakes up at 4:30 AM and I bring him to my bed and nurse him to sleep. Then he wakes up at 6, same thing. Wakes up at 7:30, same thing. My boob is the only thing keeping that kid asleep until 8:30 which is a much more acceptable time to start the day than 4:30 AM. I mean there are still some random days (last Monday for example) that he wakes up at 5 AM and even the boob trick won't work and we just get up and play then have naps at 7. But most days I can keep him asleep with my trickery until at least 7:30.

Ideas?

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

40 Days and 40 Nights....

Ummmmm, make that 41!

Yes, the meteorologists in Cleveland declared yesterday that "it has rained in 40 of the last 54 days". Well it rained more today so now we are at 41. In fact, the thunderstorm that roared through earlier tonight dropped 2 inches and now it is storming again.

I feel bad complaining because I know we are VERY fortunate compared with other parts of the country still reeling from tornado aftermath. Prayers and thoughts to all the states dealing with that.

I think we can summarize by saying: 2011 is INSANE!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

InfantSEE Week







Last week was InfantSEE Week here in Ohio (maybe everywhere?). So we called and Blaine had his first optometrist visit today! I didn't suspect anything was wrong, this was purely preventative care. I really wanted to take him to Ohio State where my sister is in her 3rd year of optometry school. She wanted to be in on the exam with her classmate, but Blaine still stinks at car rides and gas prices are ridiculous. So we went locally.

If you didn't know about this, I'm here to tell you: Children from age 6 months to 12 months can get a free eye exam regardless of your income! This is not just a week long thing, it is all the time. Check it out!

http://www.infantsee.org/

New Obession: Baby Swans










I've been watching a mommy swan across the street sit on her nest for what seems like an eternity. I was pretty scared those babies were never going to hatch! Well they hatched on Friday and I'm officially in love! 5 babies oh so cute! It is so fun to go see them everyday with Blaine!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Lands' End








I'm really trying. I'm really trying to have the confidence. But in reality, I don't really have swimsuit confidence because:


1) I have a permanent farmers tan. But I'm a farmer* what do you expect?



*I like faking being a farmer :)





2) I had a baby 1o months ago and despite breastfeeding and exercising, still have 5 lbs on me. Maybe it is because I have ZERO self control over my crazy hunger and eating!




But I think this contest sponsered by Lands End is TOTALLY COOL! Inspirational enough to make realize I look acceptable in a swimsuit but also show me in picture form that I need to get out and run a few more miles and do a million more crunches before it is officially warm enough to swim in Ohio. ;)




I don't have Twitter so I'm doing the blog version of the contest. You can too! Must post your picture today!





*** Get the Twibbon – Go to http://twibbon.com/join/I-Have-Swimsuit-Confidence-2 and display the “I have swimsuit confidence!” Twibbon on your Twitter profile photo. Send a tweet to @LandsEndPR proclaiming “I have swimsuit confidence!” #landsend for a chance to be entered to win a $500 Lands’ End gift card – winner announced May 27.


***Participate in a Week of Tweets – Mark your calendar each day May 23 – 27, 2011 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CDST so you can join in the series of National Swimsuit Confidence Week events on Twitter. Follow @LandsEndPR and tweet at #landsend. We will be announcing exclusive swimwear promotions, giving away great prizes and inspiring women to embrace their swimsuit beauty.


***Bloggers Join the Movement – On May 23, 2011, 21 women from Curvy Girl Guide will show off their swimsuit confidence by posting a photo in a 2011 Lands’ End Swimsuit. You can join in by posting your swimsuit photo on May 23, 2011 to inspire your followers – send a link to libby.schmeisser@landsend.com for a chance to win one of five $100 Lands’ End gift cards.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Dundee Falls, Ohio




























I'm doing this post because Dundee Falls is a place that has elluded me for oh, well 28 years. I only live 20 miles from there, and being an absolute waterfall fanatic, you'd have thought I WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY OF HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE! Some girl in my class last year said, "Oh if you like waterfalls, you should go here" and whipped out her phone [yes they are banned in school] and showed me a pic. Of course she is a high schooler and had no clue where it was other than "by Beach City". Um, thanks but no help at all. However, my curiosity was peaked. Several google searches revealed nothing more than some flickr photos, some youtube videos of rock climbers, and a site that says the falls is part of a 1100 acre Wildlife Area. Oh and not to mention several websites quoting: "if you aren't a local you will never find it". No address. No parking coordintates. Nothing. Long story short, a friend and I set off today with nothing more than a name of a road. Talked to some locals. Found 2 incredible waterfalls and an area we will DEFINITELY go back to in order to do some more exploring!



P.S. the parking lot was 100% unmarked with no indication what-so-ever of the magesticness hiding in the forrest.



So it is my hope this blog post and map [ park where the smileys are, on camp road and on dundee wilmont road. each parking area leads to a waterfall; 2 total] help some googlers like me find this Ohio gem. [ Sorry if the map is blurry, you can click on it to see it larger and much more clear. Contact me with questions ].


*update 6/2/2011* I can see googlers arrives on this post every single day! If this has helped you and you did visit the falls, leave a comment and let me know!



Friday, May 20, 2011

My Little Daredevil






I can see this kid will be climbing trees like Daddy in no time! [It is not uncommon for me to go outside and not be able to find my husband, only to hear a rustle and see him hiding up in the tippy top of some random tree].



Yes that cart is on wheels!! *heart attack*

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

10 Months






By far the most fun month so far. *don't I say that to myself every month?!*

~ Very determined, strong willed personality, but so quick to smile and laugh
~ Still no teeth, thank goodness because....
~ Still breastfeeding with no lost interest on either side
~ Nurses to sleep for most all naps and at bedtime
~ Cry it out deemed a success because we only have 1 or 2 wake ups at night now
~ 2 naps per day; Approx. 10 and 3.
~ Loves walks with Daddy (on his shoulders) to see animals
~ Loves anything pasta
~ Loves all fruit
~ Doesn't love all vegetables
~ Stands alone
~ Took first steps last week
~ Has magnetic attraction to stairs
~ Still no words
~ Such an explorer but...
~ Clingy more often than not
~ Cries and screams hysterically when mad
~ Shy with strangers (and scared my grandpa LOL)
~ Poops in potty very close to 99% but struggles more with peeing than in the past (hates getting playtime interupted)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

THE CHICKENS ARE HERE!

We raised 40 chickens two years ago and Nick figured it was time to do it again. He forgot to tell me the part about having to pick them up, unpack them, and care for them myself this week.

If you've every wondered what it is like to hang heatlamps from the garage rafters, unpack 100 chicks and teach them to drink, trying not to step on them, while having a baby strapped to your back, I'll tell you, IT IS DIFFICULT! But I'm a stronger woman because of it!

In other news, I've officially diagnosed Blaine as emotionally unstable! LOL. He just cries hysterically every single time he is upset with a situation. Examples: Mommy is driving and baby is in carseat. Mommy is making dinner and gives baby trucks and tractors (his favorite) to play with. Mommy is doing dishes and trying to have baby eat a snack. Mommy goes shopping and puts baby in shopping cart. Mommy takes baby to park and tries to have baby go in swing. Bathtime is over and Mommy takes baby out of tub to dress him.


Every single situation above (and then some) leads to hysterics. That kid knows how to throw a temper tantrum and he's only 10 months old!! The future is going to be a challenge for sure!



Saturday, May 14, 2011

Outdoor Baby














Nothing warms my heart more than a baby playing in the dirt! :)




O.K. another techie blog question. I want to make my pictures wider, and I read somewhere to go into where it says "edit html" and change the numbers there. I went from 400px by 300px to 600 x 450 and then the pictures looked wide but blurry. Help!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Farmchick's Farm Photo Blog Hop


Daddy's Little Helper! All my pictures of Blaine near the garden make my heart melt. I especially like this one from today. Looking for Blaine is like "Where's Waldo". Good thing he's wearing blue. :)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Summer Fun


Well Ohio went straight from rain EVERY SINGLE DAY to hot hot hot. I know 81 isn't hot for most of you, but for me it is down right unbearable! And I live in a house without airconditioning! You think I'd be used to it by now. WRONG. We need to get a baby pool and fast because I'm going to be in it with Blaine pretty much every single day this summer! Last summer I was extremely pregnant and I spent my time floating in an innertube in the pond. This summer I'll have someone to spend my aquatic time with. :)


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Getting There..

Took me a few weeks to figure out that Blaine really doesn't like the feel of grass. And he'll do anything to avoid having to sit down or crawl in it. BINGO! Perfect opportunity for him to have to figure out walking. ;) He took a few steps last night, and today took 5. By time I got the camera out, he was sooooo over it [2 minutes later]. In other words, ignore the crying. LOL.

Baby Spinach














[ok so maybe it is lettuce but I couldn't help the title hehee]

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Greenthumb



Someone is developing quite the green thumb!! :)