Well, we hope he would be proud! For those of you who don't know, Kurt is a descendant of the world renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (he's a great-great-great uncle, I believe). "Uncle Freddy" is the creative mastermind behind New York City's Central Park and Boston's Boston Public Gardens just to name two. This past weekend, Kurt and I channeled Uncle Freddy and did a bit of a landscape overhaul on our front yard. For those of you who haven't yet been to our house, we live on a fairly busy street--busy enough that we won't ever let Madelyn play outside in our front yard. We had grass, but the grass was sparse and half moss and was just ultimately not that pretty. So we decided to get rid of it altogether, and with the help of many of our dear friends and Grandma O. (who was on Maddie duty all day) this past Saturday, we did just that. What a day! We started at 9:00 a.m. and didn't finish until 9:00 p.m. And then on Sunday, we started up again around 2:00 p.m. and finally finished the whole project at 9:00 p.m. For weeks, we dreaded getting started because we are such novices and we knew we had bitten off more than we could chew (or a mouthful at the very least). But we actually had fun! TONS as a matter of fact! And thank God for the input of all of our friends (Pat Rank, we said an audible prayer of thanks specifically for you and your gentle suggestion to rent a sod cutter rather than tear up all that grass with our shovels and our bare hands). All in all, we are thrilled with the outcome. Our little yard is modest and we look forward to continuing to add to it in the coming months, but it has definite personality now and will grow and flourish alongside our little family.
Highlights?
1. THE ROTOTILLER! What a wild ride! We decided that next time, the guys need cowboy hats and an 8 second count in order to really complete the experience!
2. All the neighbors. Nothing like a yard project to bring out all the neighbors...and some of them even pitched in!
3. The weather. Sandwiched by cold, gray, rainy days, the weekend was gorgeous. The temperature was just warm enough and the sun shone brightly. Beautiful!
4. Our friends. We have the BEST group of friends. It was Alli's idea to begin doing these group work days at each other's houses, but I think we set the bar pretty high! They were enthusiastic and encouraging and strong and energetic and didn't complain once. We had a blast!
5. The Bells of Ireland in the half wine barrels. They're the coolest plant...like little green Martian suction cups. And the wine barrels are totally authentic. They made our garage smell like wine every time we opened the door.
6. Saturday night's sleep :)
So here's my latest soap box rant: I am absolutely infuriated that Avent (and other major baby bottle companies like it) have knowingly manufactured their bottles with toxic chemicals such as BPA that leach into the milk that then goes directly into my baby's body. I guess this information has been out there for awhile now, but it's only just recently hit the larger media. Who are these people? How do they sleep at night? These are BABIES for crying out loud! For those of you who haven't heard, the upshot of it is that all plastic products are divided into seven different categories depending on their specific composition of materials. Most products have their assigned number inside a little recycling triangle on their bottom. Only 2's, 4's, and 5's are safe. All of the rest leach toxic chemicals, and number 7's are among the worst. So...guess which number most clear baby bottles fall into? Yep. 7. Nalgene bottles also fall into this category, so for those of you (like Kurt and myself) who have drunk thousands of ounces of water out of your Nalgene bottles, stop now! Get rid of them and get a SIGG (exceptionally well made Swiss aluminum water bottles). But back to baby bottles. All week I've been researching other options for bottles, and I think we've finally settled on good old fashioned Evenflo glass bottles. I went to buy a bunch at Babies R Us the other day and they were totally out; the gal said they've been flying off the shelves. I managed to find one ridiculously overpriced one at a local children's boutique, which of course I purchased, and we've been washing it between every feeding until I can find some more. I just can't bear the thought of knowingly putting toxins in my little baby's body, and I'm so mad that I have to even be worrying about it in the first place.
(Dismounting soap box.)
On to happier things! Madelyn is moving and shaking as always. Here are some highlights from the last week or so:
Ok, that is the cheesiest title ever; please forgive me :)
It occurred to me today as I was kissing Madelyn all over her sweet little face while doing some grocery shopping at New Seasons that for the first time in my life, I have absolutely no problem displaying as many public displays of affection as I want. I kiss her, snuggle with her, stroke her face, make silly faces at her, stare at her, and whisper in her ear with absolutely no regard for who is watching and what they might be thinking. That is a major step for someone like me who is constantly, endlessly, excruciatingly aware of others' opinions and critiques! Yay for me! Progress! Poor Kurt. We dated for months before I would even sit next to him in a movie theater. Ok, not really, but it probably felt like that for him. He is the epitome of a carefree, in the moment, affectionate, expressive person. I've always loved that about him and have envied how he is so easily who he is. It is extremely difficult for me to get caught up in moments, but having my own little baby and experiencing the profoundly fleeting nature of time is helping me learn to just get lost a bit even if (gasp!) other people are watching. Plus, I know in about six or seven short years, "other people" will be the least of my concerns; Maddie won't want her mommy smooching on her in front of her friends forever, so I'd better just indulge while I can!
This is so great! Madelyn's most recent trick (along with pulling herself up to a standing position) is showing off how strong she is. Mark and Jan have said that Kim used to do this same thing when she was little. It's hilarious and she does it on command which is even funnier! That said, we are a little worried that she may get a hernia because she gets SO intense at times... I think she gets that from both of her parents ;) Enjoy!
Ok all, I have a confession of my own to make. Kim and I have had a tough weekend. We're dealing with the fact that our 7month old daughter is a bit of a klepto. Yes, she stole for the first time this weekend and it was from our own friends.
You see, it all started when our good friends Took, Jeff and Max needed help moving. Kim, Maddie and I rallied to the cause and got them into their new place. The downside? Well, when we got home, we found that Maddie came home with something that wasn't hers or ours:
What we are happy about is how strong she is; above, she's seen trying to hide it under her jumperoo. She must have tucked this little box into her pocket or her onesie or something... I KNOW!!! Isn't that amazing?!?! We were so surprised because it's not such a small box, you know? We were also surprised when she pulled herself up to a standing position!! We were so excited! See the continued progression below
She's so fun and she's so strong. However, I'm sure you can see a fatal flaw in this story. Don't worry, she actually did pull herself up. She just didn't take this box. It's just a little too big for her to carry.
That's where my actual confession comes in. So we helped Took and Jeff move and this box made it home with us. No, this isn't just any box. It doesn't have expensive electronics, luxurious jewelry, or irreplaceable keepsake items from someone's childhood. No, no, that's just not special enough. This box was marked with "TOOK'S MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS" and contained quite a few delicious bags that you saw in the previous post.
So, to all of you who showed interest in this beautiful arm candy, they are not for sale... by us anyway. You can try hitting Took up for the same prices, but she may have a bit of a markup :)
Sorry to you all for the joke affecting you as well. It's funny because I think Took was even ready to put some money down on a couple of these before she noticed that they were hers... too funny!
Oh, and Kim wants me to make it abundantly clear that she had nothing to do with this.
Spring is upon us and the cleaning has begun. I started by mopping the floors throughout the house so Maddie has a good place to crawl. Now that she's on the move, it's become abundantly clear to me that some of my most prized possessions (next to Maddie and Kurt, of course) aren't so practical with a 7month old. So, I'm liquidating some of my assets. I have the description and price listed with each photo. Let me know if you're interested in any of them. Thanks!
1. Michael Kors
This bag goes with everything. I love it, but a girl can only have so many black bags. $25
2. Lotus
Too cute, but I'll never use it now that Maddie's around. It, unfortunately doesn't hold enough :( $25
3. Dolce & Gabbana
Ok, same deal. I LOVE this bag, but I've already got a brown bag and I worry about this one too much with Maddie... I know, I know. I can't help it. $25
4. Kate Spade
A simplified, classy number. It's been a great friend but it's off to a new home for this one! $25
5. Louis Vuitton
This is a true classic. I won't tell you the story of how I got it. Just know that the price is still quite the catch. $20
6. Petunia Pickle Bottom
Ok, this has to be one of the most beautiful diaper bags of all times. The silk is still in great condition and the colors are a coppery brown with a bright turquoise. So fun! $25
So the Bible encourages us to confess our sins not just to God but to fellow humans in an effort to be free from guilt and shame. Counterintuitive, perhaps, but it's really true. While I was pregnant, everyone warned me that becoming a mother is like treading water in a big guilt river; the minute that baby is breathing its own air, you start feeling guilty about something you are not doing or are doing or did once in 1993, and it never stops. I found this to be completely true. Madelyn ended up having to be born via C-section. I pushed for 4 hours and 15 minutes, but I still felt (feel) guilty that I didn't work harder to deliver her naturally without a sad little bruise on the top of her head (for days after her birth, I cried every time I saw that little bruise!). And that is just the beginning! In an effort to alleviate some of my neurotic parental guilt, therefore, consider this post my public confessional. The following admissions are not "sins," per se, but they certainly cause me to blush slightly when I think of them.
1. I allow my 6 month old to chew on bottles of medicine. She knows they're not toys, so they automatically hold more allure for her. And she likes the way the squeezy-top feels on her gums. A toy can occupy her attention for about 6 minutes when we're out and about. But a bottle of medicine will get me a good 15-20 minutes, sometimes longer. I at least make sure the top is screwed on very tightly, and I never leave her alone with them, so if any of my co-workers are reading this page, don't call the hotline!
2. I sometimes change her clothes in the middle of the day under the pretense that she's spit up on them or leaked out of her diaper when really I just want to put her in a different outfit. This doesn't make me feel guilty, necessarily, but it's kind of embarrassing. I do know that my daughter is not a doll...sort of...
3. I really really really want her to be an athlete. I never was (and that's putting it mildly), and I think it would be so fun to go to games and cheer her on in whatever sport she chooses. I will totally support her in whichever extracurricular activity she chooses, and I vow---PUBLICLY--to not become one of those psycho "live through your kids" parents who is constantly pushing and marketing and criticizing their 6 year old from the sidelines only to get kicked out of the little league game by the 17 year old ref. It's her life and her childhood and she can choose whatever she wants. As long as it's a sport :)
4. I worry that I love Madelyn too much. Or rather, that I am too emotionally caught up in her. I can barely make it through an 8 hour work day away from her let alone a night away or a weekend away (neither of which we've done yet). I can't even imagine sending her off to Kindergarten or being ok with the fact that one day, she's going to prefer her friends to her mommy (gulp). College? Marriage? Forget it. She's never leaving home. (Quick aside: My dad assures me that adolescence will take care of this issue completely. I try not to take that assessment personally :)
Well, that's all that comes to mind right now. I'm quite sure there will be others as time passes.
5. The Bells of Ireland in the half wine barrels. They're the coolest plant...like little green Martian suction cups. And the wine barrels are totally authentic. They made our garage smell like wine every time we opened the door.
