Today I worked and Ollie stayed with Grandma.
When Daddy and I got off work, we headed to Grandma's for dinner...oh, and to pick up Ollie. We had our first taste of delicious corn from the garden (YUMMY!!!) plus squash, cucumbers, mac and cheese, and pork. Garden fresh veggies are the best! Ollie tried mac and cheese and a kernel of corn. He loved both, but then wasn't too thrilled with the baby food we offered him as his main course.
After dinner, we went for a gator ride and then checked out the garden. Grandma froze 80 ears of corn today, and it looks like we'll have at least that much to do over the weekend. Gardens are hard work, right Daddy?
By the time we got home, it was nearing Ollie's bed time, but we had about 1/2 hour to play. He's getting so grabby with his toys, but he always gravitates to his favorite mini beach ball.
I'm heading off to bed myself because both Daddy and I have to work tomorrow morning. Hopefully, I'll be home by 12:00, but getting off to an early start may be more difficult than I would like. I'm also making a mental note to make sure Ollie gets plenty of prunes tomorrow to flush out the corn. Nighty-night.
Friday, July 31
Thursday, July 30
Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News
Today was Ollie's 9 month checkup. The next time he's off to the doctor (God willing) it will be for his 1 year checkup. Yeah, that's right, I said 1 YEAR! At this rate, Speck will be here in the blink of an eye.
We had to be at the Cold Spring office by 8:30, so we were up and at 'em early. Speck wasn't really cooperating, so I was happy that Grandma offered to go along for the ride. She was a big help since I wasn't feeling up to par.
Ollie's checkup went well. Doc Cutie Pie said he growing in proportion (22 lbs, 3 oz and 28") and looking great. He gave us the go ahead to start finger foods and table "scraps" in small doses. Best of all, he eased my mind about the fact that Ollie's not too interested in crawling or standing. He said to give it time, and he should be going at it by his next check up. I'm sure by then I'll be wondering why I wanted him to be mobile.
After his checkup Ollie passed out. I'm sure it is overwhelming to get poked and prodded when you have no way to ask questions. I took this opportunity to rest as well and this was nice because the weather was rainy and perfect for napping.
After napping, it was time for lunch. Even though I was anxious to try some finger foods, I decided to wait for Daddy to get home so he could watch too. By this time, the weather was getting really stormy, so we let Betsy come upstairs. Usually she's under Ollie highchair waiting for a morsel, but today this was for moral support. Poor Bets.
When Daddy got home, we tried some cereal puffs. We couldn't get over how Ollie's puts everything in his mouth, but when we gave him something to eat, he just pushed it around on the tray. Watch and enjoy.
I.
II.
III.
Today was a great day off, but it's back to work tomorrow.
We had to be at the Cold Spring office by 8:30, so we were up and at 'em early. Speck wasn't really cooperating, so I was happy that Grandma offered to go along for the ride. She was a big help since I wasn't feeling up to par.
Ollie's checkup went well. Doc Cutie Pie said he growing in proportion (22 lbs, 3 oz and 28") and looking great. He gave us the go ahead to start finger foods and table "scraps" in small doses. Best of all, he eased my mind about the fact that Ollie's not too interested in crawling or standing. He said to give it time, and he should be going at it by his next check up. I'm sure by then I'll be wondering why I wanted him to be mobile.
After his checkup Ollie passed out. I'm sure it is overwhelming to get poked and prodded when you have no way to ask questions. I took this opportunity to rest as well and this was nice because the weather was rainy and perfect for napping.
After napping, it was time for lunch. Even though I was anxious to try some finger foods, I decided to wait for Daddy to get home so he could watch too. By this time, the weather was getting really stormy, so we let Betsy come upstairs. Usually she's under Ollie highchair waiting for a morsel, but today this was for moral support. Poor Bets.
When Daddy got home, we tried some cereal puffs. We couldn't get over how Ollie's puts everything in his mouth, but when we gave him something to eat, he just pushed it around on the tray. Watch and enjoy.
I.
II.
III.
Today was a great day off, but it's back to work tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 29
Tuesday, July 28
Prune Juice and Pregnancy
Now that I've revealed our news, I can finally talk openly about my pregnancy adventures. First I'll say morning nausea is awful, and Ollie is not willing to put off eating breakfast until after 10:00. At least 5 times a week I've been dry heaving as I prepare his prune juice and cereal, but that doesn't stop his demanding cries for food. You'd think he'd be more considerate since I'm "making" a playmate for him!
After finally pulling myself together, Grammie came to pick up Ollie and I was off to work. I spent the day in Walmart and ran into 3 people that already knew I was pregnant. Word travels fast in A-town.
By the time I got home I was exhausted. Daddy prepared dinner while I went to Grammie's to pick up Ollie. As usual, he had a blast today swimming in the pool and playing with Grammie. I'm beginning to think he's probably disappointed when I'm off work because I'm not nearly as much fun as his grandmothers.
After dinner, Ollie and I both passed out for cat naps while Daddy did the dishes. There is nothing like a 15 minute nap to energize and regroup. When Ollie woke up, we played on the floor with his two favorite toys: a baby-sized beach ball and John Deere tractor.
Before we knew it, it was 7:50 and getting close to bed time. I squeezed in a bath against my better judgment because I don't ever want to be accused of having a dirty baby. By the time he ate his cereal and bottle he was over tired and getting worked up as I sang Love Me Tender. Just as I thought he was dozing off...full-on crying with tears and everything set in. It took me a good 15 minutes to calm him down and then he finally fell asleep. I should know better than to push bedtime, especially since I melt down practically the same way when I'm exhausted. Hopefully I'll learn this lesson before #2 comes along.
I'm off to bed so I don't have a melt down. Speck and I are sleepy.
After finally pulling myself together, Grammie came to pick up Ollie and I was off to work. I spent the day in Walmart and ran into 3 people that already knew I was pregnant. Word travels fast in A-town.
By the time I got home I was exhausted. Daddy prepared dinner while I went to Grammie's to pick up Ollie. As usual, he had a blast today swimming in the pool and playing with Grammie. I'm beginning to think he's probably disappointed when I'm off work because I'm not nearly as much fun as his grandmothers.
After dinner, Ollie and I both passed out for cat naps while Daddy did the dishes. There is nothing like a 15 minute nap to energize and regroup. When Ollie woke up, we played on the floor with his two favorite toys: a baby-sized beach ball and John Deere tractor.
Before we knew it, it was 7:50 and getting close to bed time. I squeezed in a bath against my better judgment because I don't ever want to be accused of having a dirty baby. By the time he ate his cereal and bottle he was over tired and getting worked up as I sang Love Me Tender. Just as I thought he was dozing off...full-on crying with tears and everything set in. It took me a good 15 minutes to calm him down and then he finally fell asleep. I should know better than to push bedtime, especially since I melt down practically the same way when I'm exhausted. Hopefully I'll learn this lesson before #2 comes along.
I'm off to bed so I don't have a melt down. Speck and I are sleepy.
Monday, July 27
Bun in the Oven
With the reaction to yesterday's blog, I'm guessing that most of you have guessed what I was alluding to. Yes, we're expecting again! Our due date is 2/14/10 so it looks like we're going to have a cupid baby. Or if we're lucky he/she can share a birthday with Grandma or Daddy. However, Uncle Jeremy is out of luck because I'm not holding off until the 28th!
What's everybody thinking? Well, Ollie still hasn't decided how he feels about this news. I'm sure he'll love to have someone to manipulate and blame things on, but he's sure been enjoying being the center of attention. Daddy and I are super stoked, but also freaked out about having two under two. And of course the grandparents are totally excited and ready to get their paws on another baby. The only losers in this scenario are Betsy and Petunia because they will be moving down the priority list even further. Like I always tell Betsy, "Life's a bitch."
I didn't have to leave today until noon, so Ollie and I had all morning to play, read, and work on crawling. I think it's just a matter of time before he takes off.
Grandma picked Ollie up just before I had to head off to work and then my doctor's appointment. They had plans to play in the garden, watch the cows, and take many wagon rides, so Ollie had no reservations about waving goodbye to me. At least he's happy when he stays with Grandma or Grammie.
Daddy and I picked Ollie up around 5:00. Grandma, Grandpa, and Ollie wanted to hear all about my doctor's appointment. Grandpa insists it's a girl that he's nicknamed Shirley, but he'll just have to wait until February to find out for sure.
When we got home, it was time for dinner, but Ollie could barely keep his eyes open to eat. He finished his sweet potatoes and turkey before before I put him down for a short nap. As usual, Grandma wore him out. Once he woke up, we headed outside to watch Daddy clean out the shed.
Today was enjoyable and exciting and I can't wait to see Ollie as a big brother. Off to bed...after all I'm sleeping for two!
What's everybody thinking? Well, Ollie still hasn't decided how he feels about this news. I'm sure he'll love to have someone to manipulate and blame things on, but he's sure been enjoying being the center of attention. Daddy and I are super stoked, but also freaked out about having two under two. And of course the grandparents are totally excited and ready to get their paws on another baby. The only losers in this scenario are Betsy and Petunia because they will be moving down the priority list even further. Like I always tell Betsy, "Life's a bitch."
I didn't have to leave today until noon, so Ollie and I had all morning to play, read, and work on crawling. I think it's just a matter of time before he takes off.
Grandma picked Ollie up just before I had to head off to work and then my doctor's appointment. They had plans to play in the garden, watch the cows, and take many wagon rides, so Ollie had no reservations about waving goodbye to me. At least he's happy when he stays with Grandma or Grammie.
Daddy and I picked Ollie up around 5:00. Grandma, Grandpa, and Ollie wanted to hear all about my doctor's appointment. Grandpa insists it's a girl that he's nicknamed Shirley, but he'll just have to wait until February to find out for sure.
When we got home, it was time for dinner, but Ollie could barely keep his eyes open to eat. He finished his sweet potatoes and turkey before before I put him down for a short nap. As usual, Grandma wore him out. Once he woke up, we headed outside to watch Daddy clean out the shed.
Today was enjoyable and exciting and I can't wait to see Ollie as a big brother. Off to bed...after all I'm sleeping for two!
Sunday, July 26
Da Da's Day
Today we were up early and off to 8:00 mass. I was asked to participate in the service by taking up the gifts and unknowingly volunteered Grandma and Daddy too. This was quite a shock to non-Catholic Daddy, but he was a real trooper and did it even while holding sleeping Ollie. I thought for sure he wouldn't be speaking to me after church, but he actually laughed about the incident, especially how I get myself into situations without even realizing it.
After church Daddy headed to Country Cousins, but I passed. I swear doughnuts make me nauseous. When we got home, Ollie finished his morning nap and Daddy went into a slight sugar coma after two doughnuts. I LOVE a good after church cat nap, so we all kicked back for 30 minutes of peace and reflection.
Next, we headed to Grandma's for garden work. We have green beans coming out of our ears, but even more exciting, we have corn! Daddy wasn't wild about picking beans, but I reminded him that he wanted to plant a garden more than anybody and we discussed the hard work that would be involved. After all, you reap what you sow. Ollie can't get enough of sitting in his wagon under the shade watching us work.
Grandpa was hauling round bales so Ollie was mesmerized by the tractor. When Grandpa stopped to let Ollie sit on his lap and play farmer that made the little guy's day. He gets so excited that he starts jabbering and grabbing at the steering wheel every time he gets on the tractor. I'm pretty sure this made Grandpa's day too.
After picking beans and playing tractor driver, Daddy, Ollie, and I went for a gator ride. Even though it was almost time for his nap, Ollie was so excited. He just can't get enough of Grandpa's toys. Next, we loaded up our harvest and headed home to share with the family and neighbors.
After Ollie's afternoon nap, we went to Frisch's for dinner and then to the grocery store. Ollie is so much fun in the grocery store that we don't even mind the chore anymore. His little head spins around checking out all the stuff and he loves chatting while cruising the aisles. Although I don't have footage, I think Daddy and I both agree that we can officially add "Da Da" to Ollie's vocabulary. As we were waiting at the deli, Ollie addressed Daddy several times! This was very exciting, but since we were in public, we managed to keep ourselves under control. Now we really have to work on MAMA!
Tomorrow I have a busy afternoon. I have to work for about an hour and then I have a doctor's appointment. Stay posted for interesting news.
After church Daddy headed to Country Cousins, but I passed. I swear doughnuts make me nauseous. When we got home, Ollie finished his morning nap and Daddy went into a slight sugar coma after two doughnuts. I LOVE a good after church cat nap, so we all kicked back for 30 minutes of peace and reflection.
Next, we headed to Grandma's for garden work. We have green beans coming out of our ears, but even more exciting, we have corn! Daddy wasn't wild about picking beans, but I reminded him that he wanted to plant a garden more than anybody and we discussed the hard work that would be involved. After all, you reap what you sow. Ollie can't get enough of sitting in his wagon under the shade watching us work.
Grandpa was hauling round bales so Ollie was mesmerized by the tractor. When Grandpa stopped to let Ollie sit on his lap and play farmer that made the little guy's day. He gets so excited that he starts jabbering and grabbing at the steering wheel every time he gets on the tractor. I'm pretty sure this made Grandpa's day too.
After picking beans and playing tractor driver, Daddy, Ollie, and I went for a gator ride. Even though it was almost time for his nap, Ollie was so excited. He just can't get enough of Grandpa's toys. Next, we loaded up our harvest and headed home to share with the family and neighbors.
After Ollie's afternoon nap, we went to Frisch's for dinner and then to the grocery store. Ollie is so much fun in the grocery store that we don't even mind the chore anymore. His little head spins around checking out all the stuff and he loves chatting while cruising the aisles. Although I don't have footage, I think Daddy and I both agree that we can officially add "Da Da" to Ollie's vocabulary. As we were waiting at the deli, Ollie addressed Daddy several times! This was very exciting, but since we were in public, we managed to keep ourselves under control. Now we really have to work on MAMA!
Tomorrow I have a busy afternoon. I have to work for about an hour and then I have a doctor's appointment. Stay posted for interesting news.
Saturday, July 25
Monsoon Madness
I was quite possibly the laziest person on the planet for most of the day today. Jason got up for work at 6:00 and Ollie woke up at 6:15. Ollie kept his normal routine of eating breakfast and then back to sleep, and today I joined him. He woke back up around 9:15, so I somehow rolled myself out of bed to tend to him, but the stormy weather made us both drowsy. We climbed into my bed and before I knew it we both dozed off again. Daddy called around 10:00 to let us know he would be home around 12:00. Answering the phone took more energy than I wanted to exert.
Eventually we got up, got dressed, and pulled ourselves together. The rain just kept pouring outside and the storms gave poor Betsy one mini heart attack after another. Pretty soon, Daddy was home and he brought me two Gold Star cheese coneys. YUMMY and best of all I didn't have to make lunch!
I think Daddy was jealous of our laziness, so he and Ollie got back in bed. I swear, we never hang out in bed all day, so I'm not sure what our deal was. I guess we'll blame it on the rain. Daddy napped for a few minutes, but Ollie was done being lazy and wanted some action.
That didn't last for long though, because after about 10 minutes riding Rusty, he was rubbing his eyes, indicating he was ready for his afternoon nap. While Ollie slept, Daddy and I watched Gran Torino on pay-per-view and just as the credits rolled, Ollie woke up again. His timing is so good he might someday work in show business.
Just as we thought the rain was letting up, the storms rolled in again. Luckily Ollie is not the slightest bit affected by the thunder or lightening (the same can't be said for Betsy). The boys played on the floor and Ollie tried out his new chair Marsha bought him. That is until Daddy decided he needed a pillow.
Thankfully the rain finally stopped around 5:00. We took this opportunity to take a walk and play outside before we tuned into complete blobs. It felt good to get moving and since the sun was out I began to feel energized.
Once Ollie went to bed, I got so pumped up, I cleaned the entire house. I guess today proved that I just can't sit around, even when I try.
Eventually we got up, got dressed, and pulled ourselves together. The rain just kept pouring outside and the storms gave poor Betsy one mini heart attack after another. Pretty soon, Daddy was home and he brought me two Gold Star cheese coneys. YUMMY and best of all I didn't have to make lunch!
I think Daddy was jealous of our laziness, so he and Ollie got back in bed. I swear, we never hang out in bed all day, so I'm not sure what our deal was. I guess we'll blame it on the rain. Daddy napped for a few minutes, but Ollie was done being lazy and wanted some action.
That didn't last for long though, because after about 10 minutes riding Rusty, he was rubbing his eyes, indicating he was ready for his afternoon nap. While Ollie slept, Daddy and I watched Gran Torino on pay-per-view and just as the credits rolled, Ollie woke up again. His timing is so good he might someday work in show business.
Just as we thought the rain was letting up, the storms rolled in again. Luckily Ollie is not the slightest bit affected by the thunder or lightening (the same can't be said for Betsy). The boys played on the floor and Ollie tried out his new chair Marsha bought him. That is until Daddy decided he needed a pillow.
Thankfully the rain finally stopped around 5:00. We took this opportunity to take a walk and play outside before we tuned into complete blobs. It felt good to get moving and since the sun was out I began to feel energized.
Once Ollie went to bed, I got so pumped up, I cleaned the entire house. I guess today proved that I just can't sit around, even when I try.
Friday, July 24
SuperSonic
I worked all day today and Ollie stayed with Grandma. We really got off to a tough start this morning because I wasn't feeling too hot, but luckily Grandma came to pick up her little buddy and she helped him get dressed while I pulled myself together. Sometimes I hate mornings.
Since I got off to a later start than planned, I ended up having to work a little later than I would have liked. I got home around 4:00 and headed straight to Grandma's to pick up my guy. When I arrived he was playing on the living room floor. I heard Grandma say, "Mommy's here," and immediately he started giggling. This melted my heart. Although I'm still new at this parenting thing, I'm fairly certain that I will never get used to how great it feels to reunite with my Ollie. Of course talk to me again when he's 14 and embarrassed by my mere existence.
Daddy and Grandpa were going to a tractor pull, so Grandma suggested we go to Sonic for dinner. I'm never one to turn down and limeade, so we agreed that Grandma would meet us in about an hour. We headed home so Ollie could see Daddy before he went out for the evening.
The boys played games, while I did chores and packed Ollie's bag for our Sonic adventure. It is too funny to watch them interact because I can't decide who idolizes who more. Ollie, Jason or Jason, Ollie?
Pretty soon Grandma arrived and we were off to Sonic. I think Ollie recognizes my low-cal strawberry limeade cup, because he grabs for the straw every time I have one (of course that is at least a couple times a week). He always struggles getting anything through the straw at first, but once he figures it out, watch out. What a fun little treat for us to share. And hey, it has real limes and strawberries so we'll pretend it's healthy.
When we got home, Grandma watched Ollie get his bath and helped prep him for bed. As usual he was tuckered out from his day on the farm and could barely keep his eyes open to take his bottle. I don't think I finished the first verse of Love Me Tender before he passed out. I guess it's hard work being a little guy.
Tomorrow Daddy has to work, but Ollie and I are planning on a restful morning. I suppose we should get some chores completed too, but we'll probably just play that by ear. Off to bed.
Since I got off to a later start than planned, I ended up having to work a little later than I would have liked. I got home around 4:00 and headed straight to Grandma's to pick up my guy. When I arrived he was playing on the living room floor. I heard Grandma say, "Mommy's here," and immediately he started giggling. This melted my heart. Although I'm still new at this parenting thing, I'm fairly certain that I will never get used to how great it feels to reunite with my Ollie. Of course talk to me again when he's 14 and embarrassed by my mere existence.
Daddy and Grandpa were going to a tractor pull, so Grandma suggested we go to Sonic for dinner. I'm never one to turn down and limeade, so we agreed that Grandma would meet us in about an hour. We headed home so Ollie could see Daddy before he went out for the evening.
The boys played games, while I did chores and packed Ollie's bag for our Sonic adventure. It is too funny to watch them interact because I can't decide who idolizes who more. Ollie, Jason or Jason, Ollie?
Pretty soon Grandma arrived and we were off to Sonic. I think Ollie recognizes my low-cal strawberry limeade cup, because he grabs for the straw every time I have one (of course that is at least a couple times a week). He always struggles getting anything through the straw at first, but once he figures it out, watch out. What a fun little treat for us to share. And hey, it has real limes and strawberries so we'll pretend it's healthy.
When we got home, Grandma watched Ollie get his bath and helped prep him for bed. As usual he was tuckered out from his day on the farm and could barely keep his eyes open to take his bottle. I don't think I finished the first verse of Love Me Tender before he passed out. I guess it's hard work being a little guy.
Tomorrow Daddy has to work, but Ollie and I are planning on a restful morning. I suppose we should get some chores completed too, but we'll probably just play that by ear. Off to bed.
Thursday, July 23
Mollie and Ollie's Day of Fun
Today has been a great day! Ollie got up around 6:15 like normal, but after he ate we hopped in my bed to snuggle and watch the morning news. Before I knew it he fell asleep and slept for nearly 2 hours. I dozed in and out between weather reports and rubbing Ollie's head. I would be hard pressed to think of another time in my life where I was more relaxed than cuddling with my baby boy.
I was off work all day except for a short conference call. Grandma stopped by with some newly canned pickles on her way to Florence, so I enlisted her assistance with Ollie so I wouldn't be interrupted during the call. 45 minutes later Grandma had her Ollie fix and I was done with work for the day!
Ollie and I enjoyed the entire afternoon. We read books, played on a blanket on the floor, and took a walk. Since I've been working so much, I almost forgot what it was like to spend the entire day with my little guy.
Daddy got home around 4:00. We ate left over ham and beans before heading out to Walmart to get some essentials. Daddy played with any toy he could get his hands on. Ollie loved watching Daddy, and I got a kick out of watching Ollie.
Once we got home, we hung outside enjoying the weather and playing fetch with Betsy. Daddy helped Ollie drive his car like a hot rod, popping wheelies and everything. After that excitement, he relaxed in his chair while I conducted a photo shoot.
Tomorrow I'm back at work, but now that I'm feeling recharged it shouldn't be too bad of a day.
I was off work all day except for a short conference call. Grandma stopped by with some newly canned pickles on her way to Florence, so I enlisted her assistance with Ollie so I wouldn't be interrupted during the call. 45 minutes later Grandma had her Ollie fix and I was done with work for the day!
Ollie and I enjoyed the entire afternoon. We read books, played on a blanket on the floor, and took a walk. Since I've been working so much, I almost forgot what it was like to spend the entire day with my little guy.
Daddy got home around 4:00. We ate left over ham and beans before heading out to Walmart to get some essentials. Daddy played with any toy he could get his hands on. Ollie loved watching Daddy, and I got a kick out of watching Ollie.
Once we got home, we hung outside enjoying the weather and playing fetch with Betsy. Daddy helped Ollie drive his car like a hot rod, popping wheelies and everything. After that excitement, he relaxed in his chair while I conducted a photo shoot.
Tomorrow I'm back at work, but now that I'm feeling recharged it shouldn't be too bad of a day.
Wednesday, July 22
Sweatin' to the Ollie
I've been way, way, way too tired the last few nights to blog. Working too much has been taking a toll on me, but things are getting back to normal as of tomorrow. I'm off all day and Ollie and I are kicking back.
The last few days have been a blur. Ollie at Grandma's or Grammie's and then the evening rush of dinner, bath, bed. Yesterday, we did manage to find an hour to watch Daddy and Grandpa roll hay bales at Hofstetter's. Ollie LOVES watching the tractors and since this is probably the last hay of the year, we squeezed Hay Extravaganza Part II on our evening itinery.
This evening has been much more relaxing, in large part due to the rainy weather. Another big advantage was the crock pot full of ham and beans that greeted us as we walked in the door. There is nothing like coming home to a house that smells delicious and not having to cook.
After dinner it was play time! Ollie was exceptionally talkative and ready to giggle. Daddy was ready to oblige with tickles and raspberries galore.
I had Ollie laughing as I tried to mimic his movements. I had no idea how inflexible I was until I tried to grab my feet and pull them to my face. This was possible for me, but he makes it look effortless. The hardest part was kicking my legs down quickly to the floor. This may have been the most comprehensive workout I've ever done. Strength training, stretching, and cardio were all included...no wonder he sleeps so well. Maybe Ollie should produce and market his own exercise DVD, but thankfully Daddy didn't video me...that may have scared small children.
After our workout it was time to hit the showers. Or ducky bathtubs. Daddy gave Ollie his bath and once again they were laughing uncontrollably. Ollie got frustrated with Daddy because he kept playing with his rubber ducky. He got so mad, he started splashing the water to show his annoyance. I guess he has his Daddy's temper...oh, goodie!
Before we knew it Ollie was rubbing his eyes and it was time for bed. Even though I'm off work tomorrow, I'm heading to bed early tonight, so I can be rested and ready to enjoy our day.
The last few days have been a blur. Ollie at Grandma's or Grammie's and then the evening rush of dinner, bath, bed. Yesterday, we did manage to find an hour to watch Daddy and Grandpa roll hay bales at Hofstetter's. Ollie LOVES watching the tractors and since this is probably the last hay of the year, we squeezed Hay Extravaganza Part II on our evening itinery.
This evening has been much more relaxing, in large part due to the rainy weather. Another big advantage was the crock pot full of ham and beans that greeted us as we walked in the door. There is nothing like coming home to a house that smells delicious and not having to cook.
After dinner it was play time! Ollie was exceptionally talkative and ready to giggle. Daddy was ready to oblige with tickles and raspberries galore.
After our workout it was time to hit the showers. Or ducky bathtubs. Daddy gave Ollie his bath and once again they were laughing uncontrollably. Ollie got frustrated with Daddy because he kept playing with his rubber ducky. He got so mad, he started splashing the water to show his annoyance. I guess he has his Daddy's temper...oh, goodie!
Before we knew it Ollie was rubbing his eyes and it was time for bed. Even though I'm off work tomorrow, I'm heading to bed early tonight, so I can be rested and ready to enjoy our day.
Sunday, July 19
How Does Your Garden Grow?
This morning Ollie and I headed off to church with Grandma while Daddy stayed home to take care of some chores. After church we went to the grocery store which gave Daddy extra time to complete his duties that were so important he skipped mass. Funny thing happened when we got home, Daddy looked surprised to see us so soon, and sheepishly helped us carry in the groceries. He still hadn't accomplished anything...guess he would have had time to go to church anyway! Oh well, we all need some alone time once in a while, but I'll remember this incident the next time I need a moment.
Once we got all the groceries put away, Ollie ate his late-morning bottle and headed to bed for his morning nap. I took this opportunity to eat lunch and relax. So did Daddy.
When Ollie woke up, we headed off to Grandma's to help pick, snap, and freeze green beans. Ollie loves all garden activity, so he was thrilled to help with this work. Especially since he knows Grandma will throw him a green bean every now and then.
Grandam somehow managed to get out of snapping most of the beans because Ollie seemed to need something every time she sat down. I was onto her scheme, but hey she's already done two batches of beans, broccoli, and cucumbers. Once all the beans were snapped, the blanching and freezing is a breeze. This whole process is definitely time consuming, but in January when I'm enjoying ham and beans, it will be worth the effort.
By the time we finished we had about 10 quarts in the freezer. YUMMY! But Ollie was ready to head home and enjoy his Sunday evening.
Tomorrow I have to head back to work, but this week shouldn't be quite as crazy as last week, but I'm not holding my breath. Off to bed!
Once we got all the groceries put away, Ollie ate his late-morning bottle and headed to bed for his morning nap. I took this opportunity to eat lunch and relax. So did Daddy.
When Ollie woke up, we headed off to Grandma's to help pick, snap, and freeze green beans. Ollie loves all garden activity, so he was thrilled to help with this work. Especially since he knows Grandma will throw him a green bean every now and then.
Grandam somehow managed to get out of snapping most of the beans because Ollie seemed to need something every time she sat down. I was onto her scheme, but hey she's already done two batches of beans, broccoli, and cucumbers. Once all the beans were snapped, the blanching and freezing is a breeze. This whole process is definitely time consuming, but in January when I'm enjoying ham and beans, it will be worth the effort.
By the time we finished we had about 10 quarts in the freezer. YUMMY! But Ollie was ready to head home and enjoy his Sunday evening.
Tomorrow I have to head back to work, but this week shouldn't be quite as crazy as last week, but I'm not holding my breath. Off to bed!
Saturday, July 18
It's a Zoo in Here!
So, today started off relaxing...for Ollie and Daddy that is. I got up at 6:45 with Ollie, fed him his breakfast, and passed him off to Daddy so I could get some chores finished before we went to the zoo. When I went into our bedroom to change the sheets, this is what I found. Those two really know how to kick back!
Meanwhile, I did three loads of laundry, cleaned the basement bathroom, packed Ollie's bag, packed snacks and a cooler, checked my email, and got myself ready to go. I was so productive before 8:00 this morning that I felt like a Marine.
Finally, I was able to drag the boys out of bed and get them ready just minutes before Grammie and Poppy picked us up. We started off having issues getting the car seat installed and adjusted in Grammie's van, which threw our entire schedule off balance. Little did I know how big of a deal this would end up being.
First, we headed to Bob Evan's for breakfast. Ollie was Mr. Personality for 99% of our meal, flirting with the server and making friends with anybody walking by our table. Just as we were finishing up our meal, he started whimpering and frowning. Daddy changed his diaper, and even though we were at Bobby E's, it was just wet. Finally we broke our streak of horrific diaper changes at Bob Evan's! I took this as a good sign of what was to come, but I misunderstood the foreshadowing.
Now we were off to the zoo. Ollie dozed in the van, but never really fell sound asleep. Just as we were pulling onto Vine Street, he woke up and immediately started crying. While Poppy struggled to find a parking lot that wasn't full, Daddy and Grammie tried to figure out what was bothering Ollie. I just sang Old MacDonald. We waited in line to pay for what seemed like 50 minutes since Ollie was screaming by this point, but probably only took about 5 minutes.
Finally we parked and started unloading, but Ollie still would not calm down. By this time, tensions were high and tempers were flaring. He wouldn't eat food, take his bottle, or drink water. Eventually, I grabbed him for Daddy and started walking up and down the aisle singing Love Me Tender. This calmed him enough to put him in the stroller so we could attempt to leave the parking lot. At this point, Daddy was crabby, Grammie was nervous, Poppy was confused, and I was angry. Sounds like a great way to start the zoo expedition!
He finally seemed to be calmed down enough to start enjoying the sights. That is until Daddy and Poppy insisted on going into the Reptile House. I'm sure Ollie sensed my uneasiness about waiting outside with all of those big, scary snakes lurking within yards, so he started acting up again. We tried food, we tried water, we tried singing, we tried rocking, we tried strolling. Nothing was working. We ended up on a bench with Daddy rocking and me signing, which eventually lulled Ollie to sleep.
Luckily, when he woke up he was in a much better mood and actually smiled when Grammie bought him a hat and toy. Now we were ready to really see some sights!
The first exhibits he really enjoyed were the bears. The black bears were sleeping, but the polar bears were putting on a show. He couldn't take his eyes off the biggest bear as he stretched, that is until we spotted the swimming bear.
Now he was in such a normal mood, we decided it was a great time to ride on Daddy's shoulders for the first time. This was great idea, because this actually made him HAPPY! He smiled, jabber-jawed, and giggled. Finally!
After a long day at the zoo, none of us could wait to get home. Especially Ollie. Daddy and I figured he would take a nap as soon as we walked through the door, but we were wrong. He couldn't wait to play on the floor with all of his toys. I guess the little guy has been away too much this week and just wanted to kick back at home.
Before bed Ollie had to take a bath to wash the tear stains off his face and the zoo smell from his butt. Everything Daddy did made him giggle, which made us happy considering the tough time we were having this morning.
We're off to church in the morning, so I really need to head off to bed. Hopefully tomorrow will be less exciting than today!
Meanwhile, I did three loads of laundry, cleaned the basement bathroom, packed Ollie's bag, packed snacks and a cooler, checked my email, and got myself ready to go. I was so productive before 8:00 this morning that I felt like a Marine.
Finally, I was able to drag the boys out of bed and get them ready just minutes before Grammie and Poppy picked us up. We started off having issues getting the car seat installed and adjusted in Grammie's van, which threw our entire schedule off balance. Little did I know how big of a deal this would end up being.
First, we headed to Bob Evan's for breakfast. Ollie was Mr. Personality for 99% of our meal, flirting with the server and making friends with anybody walking by our table. Just as we were finishing up our meal, he started whimpering and frowning. Daddy changed his diaper, and even though we were at Bobby E's, it was just wet. Finally we broke our streak of horrific diaper changes at Bob Evan's! I took this as a good sign of what was to come, but I misunderstood the foreshadowing.
Now we were off to the zoo. Ollie dozed in the van, but never really fell sound asleep. Just as we were pulling onto Vine Street, he woke up and immediately started crying. While Poppy struggled to find a parking lot that wasn't full, Daddy and Grammie tried to figure out what was bothering Ollie. I just sang Old MacDonald. We waited in line to pay for what seemed like 50 minutes since Ollie was screaming by this point, but probably only took about 5 minutes.
Finally we parked and started unloading, but Ollie still would not calm down. By this time, tensions were high and tempers were flaring. He wouldn't eat food, take his bottle, or drink water. Eventually, I grabbed him for Daddy and started walking up and down the aisle singing Love Me Tender. This calmed him enough to put him in the stroller so we could attempt to leave the parking lot. At this point, Daddy was crabby, Grammie was nervous, Poppy was confused, and I was angry. Sounds like a great way to start the zoo expedition!
He finally seemed to be calmed down enough to start enjoying the sights. That is until Daddy and Poppy insisted on going into the Reptile House. I'm sure Ollie sensed my uneasiness about waiting outside with all of those big, scary snakes lurking within yards, so he started acting up again. We tried food, we tried water, we tried singing, we tried rocking, we tried strolling. Nothing was working. We ended up on a bench with Daddy rocking and me signing, which eventually lulled Ollie to sleep.
Luckily, when he woke up he was in a much better mood and actually smiled when Grammie bought him a hat and toy. Now we were ready to really see some sights!
The first exhibits he really enjoyed were the bears. The black bears were sleeping, but the polar bears were putting on a show. He couldn't take his eyes off the biggest bear as he stretched, that is until we spotted the swimming bear.
Now he was in such a normal mood, we decided it was a great time to ride on Daddy's shoulders for the first time. This was great idea, because this actually made him HAPPY! He smiled, jabber-jawed, and giggled. Finally!
After a long day at the zoo, none of us could wait to get home. Especially Ollie. Daddy and I figured he would take a nap as soon as we walked through the door, but we were wrong. He couldn't wait to play on the floor with all of his toys. I guess the little guy has been away too much this week and just wanted to kick back at home.
Before bed Ollie had to take a bath to wash the tear stains off his face and the zoo smell from his butt. Everything Daddy did made him giggle, which made us happy considering the tough time we were having this morning.
We're off to church in the morning, so I really need to head off to bed. Hopefully tomorrow will be less exciting than today!
Friday, July 17
Musings
This week has been exhausting! Sometimes when choosing between blogging and sleeping, I choose blogging. Sometimes, I choose sleeping. Last night was definitely a sleeping kinda night.
Besides, I don't have too much to say because Ollie and I have not been together more than what seems like 10 minutes at a time for the last 5 days! I can't wait until next week when I won't be working quite as much and then the week after when things get back to a "normal" schedule.
I will NEVER understand how mothers that work full-time can manage. It just stresses me out to no end. I suppose I just try to squeeze too much into the small amount of time I have, and probably more likely my expectations are way too high. Somehow I think I should have time to make a gourmet dinner, read to Ollie, clean the entire house, go for a walk, do laundry, give Ollie a bath, read the newspaper, shower Betsy and Petunia with attention, and manage to not be crabby with Jason. That would be a full day for someone without a job or a baby!
Really I just need to step back and prioritize, which is probably one of my worst skills. Somehow I convince myself that everything is high priority and must be done immediately. But really, will I be a terrible mother if there are dust bunnies under our beds or we eat Campbell's soup for dinner instead of roasted chicken and fresh vegetables? Probably in some people's eyes, but I suppose the only opinions that matter are Ollie and Jason, and they seem to be doing just fine.
Besides, I don't have too much to say because Ollie and I have not been together more than what seems like 10 minutes at a time for the last 5 days! I can't wait until next week when I won't be working quite as much and then the week after when things get back to a "normal" schedule.
I will NEVER understand how mothers that work full-time can manage. It just stresses me out to no end. I suppose I just try to squeeze too much into the small amount of time I have, and probably more likely my expectations are way too high. Somehow I think I should have time to make a gourmet dinner, read to Ollie, clean the entire house, go for a walk, do laundry, give Ollie a bath, read the newspaper, shower Betsy and Petunia with attention, and manage to not be crabby with Jason. That would be a full day for someone without a job or a baby!
Really I just need to step back and prioritize, which is probably one of my worst skills. Somehow I convince myself that everything is high priority and must be done immediately. But really, will I be a terrible mother if there are dust bunnies under our beds or we eat Campbell's soup for dinner instead of roasted chicken and fresh vegetables? Probably in some people's eyes, but I suppose the only opinions that matter are Ollie and Jason, and they seem to be doing just fine.
Wednesday, July 15
Tuesday, July 14
Da Da's Muddy Waters
I started off this morning dragging because Ollie woke us up as soon as we went to bed last night. He's really trying to get those teeth in, but they just won't cut (no pun intended) him any slack. So even though we were back in bed by midnight, I didn't rest too well because I kept thinking he would wake up at any moment.
At 7:41, I heard Grammie and her wagon coming up the sidewalk, punctual as always. Ollie was already back in bed after eating his prune juice/cereal goodness, so I was glad he didn't have to wake up. I headed off to work, wishing I could stay home with my little guy, but knowing he was in good hands.
Today was a tough one at work. One problem after another, so I was excited when Grammie sent me a text message letting me know she was making dinner for Daddy and me. And best of all it was beef tips and noodles-YUM! I love Ollie's grandmothers!
On the way home I drove through Sonic for happy hour and got a Low-Cal Strawberry Limeade for me and an Orange Limeade for Daddy. We arrived home at the same time and headed down to Grammie's to pick up our sweet baby. Ollie was winding down from a long day of fun with both Grammie and Poppy, but was happy to see us. He was so happy that he grabbed onto my straw, sucked up some Limeade and got his first taste of a sweet drink. He started smiling, grunting, and kicking his feet. Oh, and grabbing for the straw to get another taste!
Grammie told us she thinks Ollie's saying something that sounds like "Da Da" but Daddy and I weren't buying it. Mostly because we didn't want to admit that we missed his first word, but also because grandmothers tend to be overly optimistic about their grandchildren. We decided to listen carefully the rest of the night and see what we thought.
When we arrived home Ollie crashed for a late afternoon nap and Daddy and I dug into the beef and noodles Grammie sent for dinner. There is nothing better than not having to cook after a long day! My ankle was swollen from climbing up and down a ladder for a good portion of the day, so after we ate, Daddy cleaned up and I propped my feet up on the couch. Before I knew it, 55 minutes had passed and I was startled by Ollie's whimpering.
Once Ollie ate dinner, he couldn't wait to drive his car, so outside we went. Eventually, Daddy joined, even if he was a little on the crabby side. Not long after hanging with Ollie and listening to my singing Old MacDonald, Daddy cheered up and even started snapping pictures of Ollie and me. Even though he was really gabby, we didn't hear Ollie say anything that resembled what Grammie reported.
Next thing we knew, it was nearing Ollie's bed time, but first he had to get a bath. Something about his ducky tub brings out the giddiness in my little boy, because he laughed, splashed, and gabbed the entire time he was in the tub. We think we may have heard what Grammie was talking about, but watch the clip below and form your own opinion.
All that talking must have relaxed Ollie because the prunes kicked in as he was finishing up his bath. Somehow we had dodged this bullet for over 8 months, so I'm not complaining. The funny thing was Grandpa was calling the exact moment this was taking place, so as soon as we got things under control Daddy called to explain why we were unavailable. I think this made Daddy's evening, and probably Grandpa's too.
Now, Ollie's sleeping and I'm hoping he stays that way all night. I have another long day at work tomorrow and I just learned that next week will be really busy too. I hope I can keep up this crazy pace without losing my mind! Off to bed.
At 7:41, I heard Grammie and her wagon coming up the sidewalk, punctual as always. Ollie was already back in bed after eating his prune juice/cereal goodness, so I was glad he didn't have to wake up. I headed off to work, wishing I could stay home with my little guy, but knowing he was in good hands.
Today was a tough one at work. One problem after another, so I was excited when Grammie sent me a text message letting me know she was making dinner for Daddy and me. And best of all it was beef tips and noodles-YUM! I love Ollie's grandmothers!
On the way home I drove through Sonic for happy hour and got a Low-Cal Strawberry Limeade for me and an Orange Limeade for Daddy. We arrived home at the same time and headed down to Grammie's to pick up our sweet baby. Ollie was winding down from a long day of fun with both Grammie and Poppy, but was happy to see us. He was so happy that he grabbed onto my straw, sucked up some Limeade and got his first taste of a sweet drink. He started smiling, grunting, and kicking his feet. Oh, and grabbing for the straw to get another taste!
Grammie told us she thinks Ollie's saying something that sounds like "Da Da" but Daddy and I weren't buying it. Mostly because we didn't want to admit that we missed his first word, but also because grandmothers tend to be overly optimistic about their grandchildren. We decided to listen carefully the rest of the night and see what we thought.
When we arrived home Ollie crashed for a late afternoon nap and Daddy and I dug into the beef and noodles Grammie sent for dinner. There is nothing better than not having to cook after a long day! My ankle was swollen from climbing up and down a ladder for a good portion of the day, so after we ate, Daddy cleaned up and I propped my feet up on the couch. Before I knew it, 55 minutes had passed and I was startled by Ollie's whimpering.
Once Ollie ate dinner, he couldn't wait to drive his car, so outside we went. Eventually, Daddy joined, even if he was a little on the crabby side. Not long after hanging with Ollie and listening to my singing Old MacDonald, Daddy cheered up and even started snapping pictures of Ollie and me. Even though he was really gabby, we didn't hear Ollie say anything that resembled what Grammie reported.
Next thing we knew, it was nearing Ollie's bed time, but first he had to get a bath. Something about his ducky tub brings out the giddiness in my little boy, because he laughed, splashed, and gabbed the entire time he was in the tub. We think we may have heard what Grammie was talking about, but watch the clip below and form your own opinion.
All that talking must have relaxed Ollie because the prunes kicked in as he was finishing up his bath. Somehow we had dodged this bullet for over 8 months, so I'm not complaining. The funny thing was Grandpa was calling the exact moment this was taking place, so as soon as we got things under control Daddy called to explain why we were unavailable. I think this made Daddy's evening, and probably Grandpa's too.
Now, Ollie's sleeping and I'm hoping he stays that way all night. I have another long day at work tomorrow and I just learned that next week will be really busy too. I hope I can keep up this crazy pace without losing my mind! Off to bed.
Monday, July 13
Green Beans and Ham
I've been way too tired to blog the last few nights, mostly because Ollie is teething and had a rough night sleeping. I worked all day today and Ollie stayed with Grammie. I had to go to Fields-Ertle Road this morning and be there by 8:00, so she came to our house so Ollie could stay in bed until normal time. Of course, he woke up early and didn't go back to sleep until Grammie arrived, but this still worked out well for me. Thank God Ollie grandmothers are so accommodating!
Daddy made it home before me, but when I opened the basement door I could tell the house was quiet. He went to pick Ollie up, but stayed for a few minutes to hang with Grammie. Just about the time I was taking off my shoes, Grandma showed up with a surprise. She cooked us dinner and even delivered it! And this was an absolutely delicious dinner: cottage ham and fresh green beans from the garden, corn bread, and cucumbers! Am I spoiled or what?
I called Daddy to inform him of the wonderful surprise, and I think he and Ollie were home before I hung up the phone. Needless to say, we chowed down! I managed to feed Ollie his dinner in between bites, but he was really starting to get crabby. Grammie must really wear him out because he couldn't keep from rubbing his eyes. So, I changed his diaper, gave him his Pooh Bear, and sent him off for a nap. He fell asleep almost immediately.
After his nap we went outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. Daddy worked in the yard and we supervised. Even though we weren't doing any work, I couldn't help noticing how my arm starts to get tired hold Ollie now. He's really getting big!
The excitement of watching Daddy was almost too much for us to handle, and the cars going by were fascinating. Ollie kept getting more and more gabby, so much so that I almost expected him to belt out a word...like Mommy maybe?
Eventually he calmed down and was ready to relax in his chair. Marsha came over to deliver some toys and Ollie tried to be thankful, but it was nearing bedtime and he has not developed his politeness muscle yet. He did manage to give her a smile or two, but no giggles.
Tomorrow I have to work all day and Ollie's off to Grammie's again. I'm sure he'll be exhausted when he gets home, and I probably will be too. Off to bed.
Daddy made it home before me, but when I opened the basement door I could tell the house was quiet. He went to pick Ollie up, but stayed for a few minutes to hang with Grammie. Just about the time I was taking off my shoes, Grandma showed up with a surprise. She cooked us dinner and even delivered it! And this was an absolutely delicious dinner: cottage ham and fresh green beans from the garden, corn bread, and cucumbers! Am I spoiled or what?
I called Daddy to inform him of the wonderful surprise, and I think he and Ollie were home before I hung up the phone. Needless to say, we chowed down! I managed to feed Ollie his dinner in between bites, but he was really starting to get crabby. Grammie must really wear him out because he couldn't keep from rubbing his eyes. So, I changed his diaper, gave him his Pooh Bear, and sent him off for a nap. He fell asleep almost immediately.
After his nap we went outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. Daddy worked in the yard and we supervised. Even though we weren't doing any work, I couldn't help noticing how my arm starts to get tired hold Ollie now. He's really getting big!
The excitement of watching Daddy was almost too much for us to handle, and the cars going by were fascinating. Ollie kept getting more and more gabby, so much so that I almost expected him to belt out a word...like Mommy maybe?
Eventually he calmed down and was ready to relax in his chair. Marsha came over to deliver some toys and Ollie tried to be thankful, but it was nearing bedtime and he has not developed his politeness muscle yet. He did manage to give her a smile or two, but no giggles.
Tomorrow I have to work all day and Ollie's off to Grammie's again. I'm sure he'll be exhausted when he gets home, and I probably will be too. Off to bed.
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