Microwaving and Metaphors

Adam and I spent a couple hours yesterday doing some holiday baking microwaving.

We started with some microwave fudge.  This has been a holiday favorite of mine for several years, and couldn’t be easier!  I use the microwave version of this recipe: 

 

Then, we moved on to the microwave caramels, and Adam broke out some creative figurative language.  He exclaimed that the Karo syrup looked just like a magnifying glass, and then a few minutes later, chanted, “We’re packing down a sand castle, we’re packing down a sand castle” while we measured the brown sugar.

Last but not least, we made some almond bark pretzels.  Our pretzels were Christmas tree shaped, and I had to laugh when Adam told me that “The trees are so pretty with their ice cubes on them!”  Yes, Adam, the salt does look like mini ice cubes!



When all the yummies were done, we had a Christmas celebration for my mom’s family.  It was a great night!



Merry Microwaving and Happy Holidays!

Five Favorite Things for Babies 0-6 Months

(I started this post 2 1/2 months ago, and it’s been sitting in draft since then, but, with the holidays coming up, I thought I’d better get it posted!)

 

 

My baby Isaac is almost 7 8.5 months old, so I thought I’d do a round-up of some of my favorite things for everyone who might be expecting a baby or needing to buy a baby gift!

 

1.  The Miracle Blanket.  Love it.  I used SwaddleMes with Adam, and they worked well, too, but the Miracle Blanket was even better.  Totally worth it.

 

2.  Bumbo.  With a tray.  We used this all the time for both boys.  Isaac loved sitting in it to watch his brother play.  See?

3.  Long-sleeved, white onesies.  I love layering these under short-sleeved onesies.  We get much more wear out of baby clothes this way, especially hand-me-downs, because they make short-sleevers work for any season!  Walmart has some inexpensive ones – here’s one in action, underneath a short-sleeved jumper, modeled by Isaac and Great Grandma Ede.

 

4.  “Shower Cap” style carseat covers.  My talented mother-in-law made this one.  It fits over the top of the infant carrier, and has kept both boys toasty warm when it’s cold out.  The “shower cap” style is important…you are not supposed to use a cover that goes between the baby and the seat, or really put bulky coats on the kiddos in the carseat, either, so this is a great solution as long as you can still carry the baby in the seat! (This is modeled by Adam – we used it for both boys and it has held up great!)

 

5.  The First Years Breast-flow BPA Free Bottles…mimics the real thing, inexpensive, and easy to clean!  Bingo, bango, bongo!

 

 

What are your favorite things for 0-6 months?  Anything I missed out on?

A Picture-less Post about Sleep Training

 

This morning, while our preschoolers were in Kindermusik, a couple of the mommies and I were discussing sleep training.  This is the message I just sent them via facebook.

“oh mylanta. I snuggled Isaac for nap. Put him in the crib. he woke up. Repeat.
So, I decided to do the sleep training I did with Adam. I'm waiting the intervals and going in to sooth, and he just starts crying again. I unplugged the monitor and am keeping myself busy with Adam downstairs.
Pray that I have the strength to make this work and that he falls asleep soon!”

 

 

When Adam was born, I was FIRMLY against any sort of cry-it-out.   Fast forward 9 months, and I was working full time, and he was waking up 6-10 times PER NIGHT for the pacifier.  At his 9 month check-up, his pediatrician told me we could do sleep training, or he may learn to sleep through the night in a couple of years.

I knew, deep in my heart, that I had to do the sleep training.  I was literally running on empty.  We had tried some “no-cry” solutions and I just didn’t have the energy or patience to make them work.

So, following a modified Ferber method, Adam cried.  For almost 45 minutes.  And then he slept.  For 12 hours.  Ah-mazing.

The next night, he cried…for 3 seconds, while we walked from his room to ours.

Of course, there were regressions, and we had repeat the process a few times over the next year or so.  But overall, we were SO HAPPY that we decided to do it.

 

 

This time around, I knew it was probably just a matter of time before I’d get desperate enough to do it again.  And I swore I’d do it before Isaac could stand in his crib – that just seemed to make it harder.  He’s 8 months old now, and today’s nap was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  And I’m so relieved to report, after less than 35 minutes of crying (interrupted every few minutes when I went in to sooth him) it’s done. 

He’s asleep.

 

P.S.  No hateful comments allowed ESPECIALLY if you’ve never gone 9+ months without sleep and/or a super, amazing, perfect mother, because I am NOT.

P.P.S.  This is pictureless because I looked at all my sweet, smiley pictures of my boys and couldn’t bring myself to post one with such a depressing topic.

Two Lists for Turkey Tuesday

 

We are headed to the Iowa Turkey Federation’s Winter Meeting today.  After the meetings, there is a Vegas themed banquet to attend tonight.  While packing for this little outing, I realized:

I do NOT own ANY Vegas-y jewelry.

Or Vegas-y shoes.  I got rid of my fancy heels this summer after realizing I hadn’t worn them in 5 years.

And Vegas-y clothes?  Fuggedaboutit.  Unless you count the tote full of dance costumes from high school that I can’t part with.

(That’s me, second from the left, several years and two babies ago.)

The last time I painted my toenails was before Isaac was born.  He was 8 months old yesterday.

I have two bottles of perfume.  I bought them my junior year of college.  They’re still half full.

We can’t check into our room until afternoon so I’m not sure where I’ll pump and/or store the milk until then.

 

 

 

This will be Bart’s first overnight away from the farm.  We will be an hour away, and gone for about 30 hours.  We will be leaving the turkeys in the capable hands of Josh, our FarmAssist (ant).  This was him, hard at work in August.  We are not leaving the boys with him, although he could probably handle it.

 

The success of this trip will determine whether we can ever venture farther from home.  So here is my list of directions for Josh and the turkeys.

Absolutely NO equipment malfunctions allowed.

NO feed problems allowed – the appropriate amount must arrive on time and may NOT clog the feed lines.

NO severe weather allowed – wind, electricity outages, snow.  Those things are not okay.

No overnight guests and no pay-per-view.

And finally, don’t lose the dog.

Win a CUTE Carhartt!

 

Every farmer has a Carhartt, right?

But they usually look like this:

Now, I have my own, but it’s CUTE!

Carhartt provided me with this “Women’s Sherpa Sweat Jacket” to review and I LOVE IT! 

 

 

It’s super soft, sweatshirt material, and I have worn it everywhere this fall.  In fact, my friends have posted 3 pictures of me in the jacket on Facebook recently:

 

On a hayride with my boys…

Adam’s friend Tanner’s birthday party…

I’ve worn it to work, Kindermusik, the turkey barns, and even church!  (Seriously, a Carhartt at church!)

Here are a couple more pictures of me wearing it, just to show you how adorable it is.  (Adorable Carhartt?  Never thought I’d say that!)

 

Now, the important part – to win a Carhartt of your own, visit www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com to sign up for their giveaway.

 

Carhartt did provide me with this product to review but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.  Honestly, when I was approached with this offer, I was SO EXCITED, and they did not disappoint!

FAMILY Rooms

 

I’ve come to terms with the fact that my living room will ALWAYS have at least one toy, stray sock, or sippy cup where it doesn’t belong. 

And that’s okay.

Here are a few more family rooms where it truly seems as though EVERY member of the family is welcome – grown-ups AND kids!

 

I love the storage along the wall in this room, and kid-friendly leather furniture.  From www.iheartorganizing.com

 

This is not really a living room, but I love the colors used.  The flooring looks like carpet tiles, which are great for kids.  www.bhg.com

 

This is definitely a sophisticated space, but there are toys VISIBLE!  I love it!  From www.hgtv.com.

 

See that basket of toys in the bottom right of the photo?  Plenty of floor space to play, and places to cuddle for movie night. www.beachhouseinthecity.blogspot.com

 

I love the mix of colors on the sofa, and the great family photo!  My boys would love driving tractors all over that tile floor. www.kristendukephotography.com

 

The wall of storage is great, and the coffee table looks like it could double as a play table. From: www.theinspiredroom.net

 

The use of color in this room would help camouflage any wayward toys that happened to be left around.  www.abodelove.blogspot.com

 

Do you have a family room that you love?  What elements make it work for your family?

Momma's New Groove: How I Decided to Become a Stay at Home Mom

You know that feeling, when you're just "in a groove?"

Life is going smoothly,
each day starts and ends with a smile,
you feel content
and blessed
and happy.

That was how I felt for most of the summer.  I was in a groove. 

Although there were moments that made me want to pull my hair out, I loved being home with my boys.  We had a great routine established; one that included plenty of time for playing and cuddling.

As the summer came to a close, I started to get very anxious about returning to work.  But I told myself to "put on my big girl panties" and get over it (or maybe that was a coworker who told me that.)  LOTS of mommies work, and many, many women deal with the same struggles that I dealt with as a working mom.  Plus, I only teach part time, so I should count my blessings, right?

Then, the week before school started, I got my daycare contract.  I love my in-home childcare provider - seriously, love her.  But stupid me, I had never actually added up how much it would cost for TWO boys instead of one.  And when I compared those numbers to my paycheck, it was depressing.  Really depressing.

And on the teachers' first day back, I was miserable.  I just kept thinking, "Why am I here?  Why am I away from my boys?"  I like teaching, I really do, but I like being with my boys more.  I racked my brain trying to think of a way that working part time really benefited me or my family.  Of course, there were some small benefits, but none of them seemed worth it.

By noon that first day, I was talking to my principal about it.  She was very understanding - she had stayed home when her boys were little, too.  I went home and talked to my husband, family, some close friends, and God, and woke up the next morning absolutely sure that I needed to resign. 

So, the day before school started, I submitted my resignation.

The timing was terribly awkward, and really unheard of around here.  My contract (and conscience) said that I had to stay until a suitable replacement was found and after the school board meeting Wednesday night, the search for a new TAG teacher can officially begin.

It's really a bittersweet time for me.  I have been teaching as I normally would, and there have definitely been moments of joy at school.  Like I said, I like teaching.  I will miss my students, their families, my coworkers, and the community I've come to know over the past few years. 

But I can. not. wait. to get back into the groove.