Facebook is Funny

Facebook is funny because things you post can be taken wrong. I mentioned on my status last week that I was have braxton hicks contractions. My husband's grandfather is one of my facebook friends and apparently my post caused quite a worry in his household. My mother-in-law got a few concerned phone calls regarding it.
Sorry to cause such trauma with the great-grandparents. I was just using facebook to air my grievances about pregnancy and to gather a little sympathy.

Homemade Tree Skirt

Since we've been married I've been collecting ornaments for our Christmas tree. They've taken on a blue and silver theme, including a blue tree skirt with snowmen. Its really cute but for the last year or two I've wanted something more traditional. So when I saw this cute red fabric with gingerbread men I couldn't resist buying it to make a tree skirt.
I really learned a lot of sewing tricks putting it together. I didn't have a pattern, I just made it up as I went, Google-ing if I got stumpted. I pleated and sewed on the ruffle. I made and sewed on some bias tape round the opening. Ta-da!
Oh here is a pic of Blue Eyes, isn't he the most adorable little boy.

Friday Confessional

I confess...
-this is my first blog post in almost 6 months.
-my husband is out camping with the guys tonight so I went out to dinner with my little man, then put him to bed early. No cooking and I have the evening to myself.
-I volunteered to help clean the church tomorrow, but I won't be going. Since I am sans husband it sounds like too much of a pain to drag my son to the church at 8am and clean.
-Did I mention that I'm 7 months pregnant and for the past 3 days I've had false labor contractions every time I do anything minimally active like vacuum, carry my son, or walk for more and 10 min. Yet another reason to skip out on my volunteer cleaning.
-Chocolate gives me heartburn when I eat it during pregnancy. But I'd rather use zantac and tums everyday then give up chocolate.
-I entered the HGTV Urban Oasis contest to win an apartment in New York. I've become a little obsessed with it. I know my family of four won't fit in a one bedroom apartment and our life is in Utah but I can't help but daydream that I won that beautiful piece of the big apple.
-I know I won't win the apartment but I plan on dressing up on Monday just in case I get ambushed with the prize. (Yeah I've read all the contest rules and know when the winner will find out).
-That long scratch on my car door that my husband was really upset about and blamed on our son was actually my fault. I didn't tell him it was the baby I just didn't correct him after the accusation.

Tantrums

This week my son has started to have major tantrums. I pulled out my old stuff from when I worked as a parent educator. Come to find out the handouts on tantrums were for 16 months old, my sons exact age. So apparently the tantrums are completely developmentally appropriate--knowing that doesn't make it any easier. We've had several long tantrums over not wanting to eat in his high chair, to be strapped in his stroller or carseat, having to come inside after playing and over having to take a nap.
This morning we had a 30 minute tantrum at breakfast. He would not let me strap him into his highchair. I decided that we could eat breakfast over a drop cloth on the floor, picnic style. It wasn't about me winning and making him eat in his chair, nor was it about me giving in to the tantrum and letting him have what he wanted. It was finding a way to meet my real goal; I decided that all I really wanted was for my son to eat his breakfast and to do it sitting somewhere in the kitchen. Crisis averted.
I also thought about the timing of his tantrums. They've gotten increasing more frequent in the last three days. About five days ago I switched him from two naps to one nap. I think perhaps he still needs more sleep during the day and that his tantrums were the result of him being overtired. So today it was back to the old schedule of two naps. It was amazing how much better he was for the rest of the day. Though he also seems to have a cold now so that could be all or part of it as well.
As you all know parenting is an on-going experiment. As soon as you think you know what you are doing all the rules change.

None of Your Business

This mother's day we spent some time with family. I got so annoyed with Rob's extended family--I got asked four times if I was pregnant. Just for the record I am not. But even if I was that's not something you ask. I felt like my personal boundaries were being repeatedly violated. I believe the conceiving of babies is a very personal thing--between husband and wife (and God). When we're ready to share our joy we'll tell you, until then its a taboo question. What made the whole thing even worse was that no one asked my sister-in-law if she was pregnant. I think I was even referred to as "the baby maker in the family"; what the hey? I have one child.
How do you tactfully deal with this situation?

French Lingerie

I went bra shopping last weekend. It was quite an adventure. I found out that I am even more chesty that I thought and that no local stores carried my size (H--what the heck?). The fit specialist at JC Penneys even told me that some women pay to have surgery to have what God gave me naturally. I ended up going to Murray (45 minutes from home) to shop at Nordstrom. I purchased 3 bras that were nearly $70 a piece--never thought I'd have to invest that much money on my boobs but it is so worth it. Having bras that fit, support, and flatter is a life saver. And the fact that the bras are French just makes them feel a bit special. I was walking to church the next day with a smirk on my face feeling like I had a secret--I'm wearing french lingerie tee hee hee or is "oh la la" more appropriate?

My Square Foot Garden

We've now lived in our house for five years. Every year I talk about planting a garden but with school and work and life in general we never got around to actually putting one in. I've planted a few vegetables (peas and beans) in with my flower beds but nothing grew very well in our clay soil. Well this year I finally got my garden.

I decided to build a square foot garden because my yard is so hilly that I only had a limited about of flat space in my yard for a garden. I also like the idea of being able to get a lot of growth in minimal space with minimal work.

My husband built these lovely raised boxes out of vinyl fencing. We attached a trellis on the north end of each box for vertical growing. We filled two of the three boxes with Mels Mix (I decided only planting in two boxes this year because I don't want to overwhelm myself). We put a grid in each box because in square foot gardening you plant in squares rather than in rows. And I've already planted peas.

As you can see from the picture my son loves the gardens too. Here he is with a handful of dirt. The Easter Bunny is bringing him a sand table; hopefully if he has a designated place to dig he'll stay out of my garden or at the very least be okay with being redirected away from the garden boxes and back to his table.

I'll post more pictures throughout the growing season. Pray for spring!