Friday, February 17, 2012
Storytime
Our library has a lap-sit storytime especially for babies. Annie and I go most weeks and she has lots of fun watching the other babies. We sing songs and play with finger puppets and read books. Annie's favorite part is the paper handout we get.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Happy Valentine's, Y'all
Our Valentine's Day tradition . . . the Gent makes us breakfast. Waffles, my favorite. YUM.
And he got me some happy flowers!
Annie loves paper right now so she was very excited about her valentines. Daddy helped her read them.
Honey and Poppa and Mama Rita and Papa Gene joined us for dinner. I neglected to take a single photo of our pretty table. Oops.
Annie got another valentine and her adorable heart shirt from Honey and Poppa. Again, very excited about the paper!
Happy Valentine's, y'all.
And he got me some happy flowers!
Annie loves paper right now so she was very excited about her valentines. Daddy helped her read them.
Honey and Poppa and Mama Rita and Papa Gene joined us for dinner. I neglected to take a single photo of our pretty table. Oops.
Annie got another valentine and her adorable heart shirt from Honey and Poppa. Again, very excited about the paper!
Happy Valentine's, y'all.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Beauty Routine
Step 1: Climb on changing table shelves
Step 2: Sit in front of mirror
Step 3: Look at hairbrush
Step 4: Taste hairbrush
Step 5: Smile at your reflection
Step 2: Sit in front of mirror
Step 3: Look at hairbrush
Step 4: Taste hairbrush
Step 5: Smile at your reflection
Friday, February 10, 2012
What I Do For Me
What do you do to keep yourself sane? I've been reflecting this week on things I do that are just for me, to keep myself healthy and fueled and content. Here's what I came up with. Because of my personality, it is important for me to accomplish my day's tasks and I find I have to schedule in time to relax. 'Cause otherwise I'll just keep going and going and--oh--did I mention I have strong type-A qualities?!
I get up at 6:30 and Annie doesn't get up till 8, so I have 90 minutes in the morning to do my Bible study, yoga or some weight training, and eat breakfast. I also use this time to straighten up the house, put away last night's dishes, feed the dogs, read blogs, and catch up on emails. But regardless of how I fill my 90 minutes, it is 90 minutes of me-time.
I try to get my household-running work (cleaning, start dinner, pay bills, etc) done during Annie's morning nap, so her afternoon naptime is free. I use afternoon naptime to relax--read a book (quality or fluff), take a bath, have a cup of tea, watch an NCIS rerun. Whatever I feel like doing. And I will not feel guilty if I accomplish nothing. That is my mama free time.
I've taken piano back up again. I try to practice 3-4 times a week. I love playing and Mom, thanks for forcing me to stick with it all those times I wanted to quit. You were right. ;)
One afternoon a week my mom babysits for Annie. I use that time to tutor at a local school and then run errands that are so much easier to do without a baby in tow! I am really enjoying tutoring and hope I am doing the kids some good . . . I am glad to have a place to volunteer and start fitting into my new city. We've been here six months and it still feels new. Someday we will find a church home (I'm so tired of being homeless) and have a community to belong to again. My social life currently consists of time with my husband, parents, and cousin. I am very grateful for their presence and there's nothing like family (especially when they babysit for free!) but it would be nice to have a girlfriend to have lunch with or get our kids together to play. Okay, I got off topic here.
Back to our star, isn't she adorable! Couldn't get us both looking at the camera at the same time, though.
I get up at 6:30 and Annie doesn't get up till 8, so I have 90 minutes in the morning to do my Bible study, yoga or some weight training, and eat breakfast. I also use this time to straighten up the house, put away last night's dishes, feed the dogs, read blogs, and catch up on emails. But regardless of how I fill my 90 minutes, it is 90 minutes of me-time.
I try to get my household-running work (cleaning, start dinner, pay bills, etc) done during Annie's morning nap, so her afternoon naptime is free. I use afternoon naptime to relax--read a book (quality or fluff), take a bath, have a cup of tea, watch an NCIS rerun. Whatever I feel like doing. And I will not feel guilty if I accomplish nothing. That is my mama free time.
I've taken piano back up again. I try to practice 3-4 times a week. I love playing and Mom, thanks for forcing me to stick with it all those times I wanted to quit. You were right. ;)
One afternoon a week my mom babysits for Annie. I use that time to tutor at a local school and then run errands that are so much easier to do without a baby in tow! I am really enjoying tutoring and hope I am doing the kids some good . . . I am glad to have a place to volunteer and start fitting into my new city. We've been here six months and it still feels new. Someday we will find a church home (I'm so tired of being homeless) and have a community to belong to again. My social life currently consists of time with my husband, parents, and cousin. I am very grateful for their presence and there's nothing like family (especially when they babysit for free!) but it would be nice to have a girlfriend to have lunch with or get our kids together to play. Okay, I got off topic here.
Back to our star, isn't she adorable! Couldn't get us both looking at the camera at the same time, though.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Board Books
Annie loves books right now. The Gent and I read to her a lot, but she also likes to sit and turn the pages and chatter to herself. She makes her Daddy and me laugh 'cause she is just so adorable. We're just one happy book-loving family. :) Here are some of our favorite board books, but we're always looking for suggestions for more!
Runaway Bunny
Goodnight Moon
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Jamberry
The Going to Bed Book
Horns to Toes and in Between
Time for Bed
Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You
Thank You, God
any kind of "touch and learn" books, Annie likes the different textures
Runaway Bunny
Goodnight Moon
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
Jamberry
The Going to Bed Book
Horns to Toes and in Between
Time for Bed
Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You
Thank You, God
any kind of "touch and learn" books, Annie likes the different textures
Monday, February 6, 2012
Bread Baking
I love making my own bread. I started about two and a half years ago on a whim (wanted to see if I could do it) and it has turned into something I really enjoy doing for our family. There's something very satisfying in caring for those I love this way, something that connects in my heart to the way women have cared for their families for thousands of years. So simple. Mix the water and the yeast, add the flour, watch it rise, work the dough, shape the loaves, smell bread baking.
And no, I'm not yearning to really live back in the "good old days." I like my modern conveniences very much, thank you. I want a Roomba for my birthday. Anyone want to contribute to my fund? :D
And no, I'm not yearning to really live back in the "good old days." I like my modern conveniences very much, thank you. I want a Roomba for my birthday. Anyone want to contribute to my fund? :D
Friday, February 3, 2012
Annie: Eleven Months
Hey, we're still alive over here. We all came down with Annie's nasty cold bug and we're still fighting it off. I think Annie is almost over it, so there's hope for the grown-ups in another few days.
In the meantime, I did manage to get Annie's eleven month photos done!
She learned the "so big" game last week
Not sure what she is telling her dolly, but it looks important
Annie has become very, very, very mobile and very, very, very curious this month. She crawls, pulls up, climbs, up and down and all around all day long. She is actually less interested in practicing walking than she was last month because crawling will get her where she wants to be faster. She is making more and more sounds and babbles and she is so cute when she talks to us. And yesterday she climbed into my lap and said "mama"!!! I still don't think she quite knows what it means but she is getting closer.
Annie is sleeping 8pm-8am now (only took us a week to give up the 6am feeding, yay!) and is still taking two good naps a day. I'm going to keep that up as long as it will last. :D Annie loves to eat--some current favorites are scrambled eggs with cheese and bananas. Formerly-beloved bathtime is now a scream fest. Not sure what happened there, but I'm sure she'll outgrow it someday. And she finally started going to the church nursery! (is it a coincidence that she also got her first cold this month?)
In the meantime, I did manage to get Annie's eleven month photos done!
She learned the "so big" game last week
Not sure what she is telling her dolly, but it looks important
Annie has become very, very, very mobile and very, very, very curious this month. She crawls, pulls up, climbs, up and down and all around all day long. She is actually less interested in practicing walking than she was last month because crawling will get her where she wants to be faster. She is making more and more sounds and babbles and she is so cute when she talks to us. And yesterday she climbed into my lap and said "mama"!!! I still don't think she quite knows what it means but she is getting closer.
Annie is sleeping 8pm-8am now (only took us a week to give up the 6am feeding, yay!) and is still taking two good naps a day. I'm going to keep that up as long as it will last. :D Annie loves to eat--some current favorites are scrambled eggs with cheese and bananas. Formerly-beloved bathtime is now a scream fest. Not sure what happened there, but I'm sure she'll outgrow it someday. And she finally started going to the church nursery! (is it a coincidence that she also got her first cold this month?)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)