NaBloPoMo.

What's one thing you think it's worth spending money on? What's one thing you always cheap out on?

This could also be a confession of ways I'm not environmentally friendly...eek. I am ok spending money on our power bill in order to keep the house cool. We set our thermostat much lower than the suggested 78-80 degrees in the summer. That is hot. I confess to being a creature that enjoys being comfortable. We set our A/C at 74. And our bill is expensive. But it's worth it.

I cheap out on clothes for my self. I don't buy myself clothes very often and when I do it's always clearance rack specials.

What's your favorite movie?

What's your favorite movie?

Steel Magnolias. Hands down. Sometimes I think that maybe it will be something else...I try to force myself to pick another movie but it doesn't happen. This one makes me laugh, makes me cry, makes me want to be a good person who loves others and takes care of those around me. Plus it kind of makes me want to be Sally Field.

Other movies I like...
Anna and the King- my favorite, 'i'm sick and just want to lie on the couch' film.
Matilda- my favorite to watch with Zola
FernGully- the first movie I remember seeing in the theatre
Terminator 2- Grant's favorite movie (i just like watching him talk about it)
The Princess Bride- my favorite quotable movie
Anything with 007. wowza.
Dirty Dancing- because it makes dancing look so fun


i'm sure there are others.

Hat Rack Project

I had been trying to come with an idea for this hat rack for a few years. Grant's mom gave it to me after I turned one into a jewelry organizer for my sister. I didn't need a jewelry organizer but it took me a while to come up with another idea...but I finally firgured it out... the blank wall above the changing table in our downstair's 'everything' room:

Add the hat rack:


Add some pretty silver buckets out the $1 shelves at Target and some ribbon from the $1 section at Michael's that I already had in my collection:

Fill with all the babies' lotions, stain stick, diaper covers, snappis, medicines, etc.:

Close-up:

I love this project. Cheap, easy and helps with organization.

Provocative

About 10 years ago I participated in a summer christian leadership training program called Josiah Project. It is run by Rock the World YMA . I lived with four other 20ish-somethings and we participated in team building activities, inner-city mission work experiences, youth ministry opportunities and cross-cultural mission projects in Belize. After spending 3 months living in close quarters we got to know each other really well.

At the end of the summer one of the directives was to access each other's good and not so good qualities. We lifted each person up with encouragements, thoughts on their future, prayers, and all of the amazing qualities we could see in him or her. Then we used our ears to hear and our eyes to see the rough places that could use improvement or that could possibly cause a challenge for his or her future.

All in all it was a great activity. I heard things that would not come up in normal life conversations.

I've gone back to the lists several times in the last 10 years when I've needed reminders about my strengths and also when I want to check on my progress at fixing those things they saw that might block me in my endeavors. Helpful and interesting. One of the obstacles someone said they saw for me was my tendency to act and speak provocatively. I was surprised that someone was actually calling me out. I knew I was flirty (the attention gave me a confidence boost) and I knew I liked to cause people to react at my words, but I didn't know that I was beyond the ordinary. Among other things I did that summer and on other occasions near this person- I walked through a church hallway from the bathroom to my sleeping room wearing nothing but a towel, wore skimpy bathing suits, stood on top of a suburban wearing a short dress, enjoyed surprising people with my vast sexual vocabulary (I could talk a good game), somehow caused a grocery bagger to leave his name/number in my bag of groceries, made out with someone (not that summer but on another Christian mission project)... I'm sure the list can go on. And that's just how I was being sexually provocative. I also encompassed this word on another level.

I love to question authority. I rarely take things at face value. I constantly seek for more and I enjoy pushing people beyond their limits (and often patience with me). I don't want to be the status quot. I want others to be provoked by what I say. I like starting and continuing conversations versus small talk (does anyone enjoy this?).

The other day I took both my girls to Target. When I shop with both I put Niva in a front carrier I've concocted out of a long piece of material so that I can chase Zola through the store as needed. I went in to Target to drop off a prescription. One guy came to the desk to help me and then called another guy over to help too. About 20 minutes later as I went to readjust Niva in the carrier I realized her foot had caught onto my tank-top strap and pulled my shirt down to my waist leaving my totally hot, beige-colored nursing bra out for the world to see. This is the extent of my flirtiness these days. Sweatpants, unwashed hair and an exposed nursing bra.

While my desire to be sexually provocative has waned over the years (having much to do with being married and loving every minute with my husband), my desire to provoke people in other ways is still burning bright. But somehow my spirit seems tame these days. It's been a while since I've offended someone (at least on purpose). I'm the authority now as a stay-at-home mom, so I guess I could question myself? I knew staying home would be hard but I am just now realizing the reason...it's not merely about other adult interactions because then grocery store encounters would suffice... I miss being frustrating. I miss inciting others to action. I really miss pissing people off- in a good way though, not in a way that flicking someone off in traffic could take care of. I miss the intellectualness of being a challenge.

husband

so the husband of mine decided to start a blog. good for him, i say. now my question is, is he doing it to spur me on in my writing, a 'hey, this is easy. why aren't you doing it more?', or is it really just for fun as he says...?

regardless of his reason it does make me feel like i should write more- here on my blog and on my literature stuff in general. thanks husband.

goal

one goal for this year: not to read any parenting books. to just go with the flow for niva and let her lead. do not be obsessed with what developmental stage she 'should' be in. just be on the lookout for anything odd but otherwise, enjoy her. :)

Would you like a side of urine with that?

Zola started potty-training last week. We've had a little potty in the bathroom for a long time and she has sat on it occassionally and used it a handful of times. We have constantly encouraged her to use it and have read books, watched movies and sung songs about going potty. But she never seemed very interested.

Then suddenly she asked to wear her panties one day and she stayed dry the whole day- running to the potty when she needed to go. Amazing. So it's been a little over a week now and she's still wearing panties most of the time. We average 2-3 accidents per day. And she's starting to try to go more each time so she doesn't go back and forth for small amounts. The first few days she was peeing 12 or more times a day. That was crazy. She seems to be saving it up more now and only going a handful of times.

She's pooping on the potty too. She's been nervous about pooping for a few months now...needing me to hug her or sing our poo-poo song before she can relax and let it go. That has translated into lots of back and forth to the potty without going and jumping up and down and sometimes even asking for a diaper before she relaxes and lets herself go.

The amount of urine we've all over the house is astounding. When she has an accident she really makes it count. She starts peeing and then she walks and keeps peeing until it's from one side of the room to the other. oh my.

She did so well going potty last week that we took her to Target on Saturday and she picked out lots of new big-girl panties- elmo, abby caddabby, hello kitty, flowers, owls and deer, plain colors. Sometimes I think she has an accident just so she can try out a new pair.

Most exciting for us is not having to clean adult sized poo out of a diaper! wahoo!

Zola at almost 23 months

On the 16th Zola will be 23 months... I can't believe my daughter is almost 2! A quick status update on my Zola-Girl.

- she knows all of her colors and has been curious about shades so we're introducing lights and darks.

- she recognizes all of her letters. (m and n get confused sometimes)

- she can count to 10 with some assistance

- she knows her left and right feet and hands

- her sentences are getting longer and it is very rare that we don't understand what she's saying. most of the time other people understand her as well. she has a good ear for articulation.

- she has memorized most of her books and loves to check out new books from the library every couple of weeks.

- her favorite activity is doing projects- anything with crafty stuff, painting, glue, glitter, etc. she will do anything if we say we'll do a project afterwards.

- she's still doing great eating different foods and she usually tries everything. she still doesn't like meat, with the only exception being chicken from chik-fil-a. she eats all kinds of fruit and lots of vegetables.

- sleeping is still touch and go. some nights she will sleep all night until 6am or so and other nights she wakes up off and on until she gets in our bed.

- she loves playing with pillows and blankets and making nests. she loves playing with clothes and shoes and she likes to take a purse everywhere.

- she also loves music and has started dance classes- creative movement. it's really fun and she's picked up a lot of new moves and i think it's been helping with her coordination and balance.

- she's still a super snuggly kid and likes to be in my lap or on my hip most of the day. she'll sit on my feet and play while i cook or do the dishes and if i sit down on the couch she is immediately in my lap, usually with a stack of books to read.

- friends are becoming very important to her. she likes to see them regularly and includes them in her prayers and conversations all the time. "rory likes cheetos" "hold alisa's hand" "tickle lillian"- she tells us these things every day. and she has a huge crush on jeff. she blushes when you ask her about him and she loves to hug and kiss him. it's so cute.


i guess that's all for now... i can't wait to see how much more fun she gets as the months go on. :)

Zolaisms

I think I 'Zola at Church' could be a weekly posting...
this week:

The priest said Jesus (not unusual here)
and Zola says, very loudly,
"Jesus loves ME!" and pointed to herself.

The lady in front us starts laughing.

Then Zola pulls at my shirt, looks down the neck, and
yells out, "BOOBIES!"

At this point the lady is almost convulsing.

These are just amid Zola's usual "Amen"s and "Alleluia"s...
this kid cracks me up daily.

Great Giveaway!!!

Fiddledeedee is having a great giveaway sponsored by All Children's Furniture, who carries everything from kids furniture to toys. Stop by before 11:59am on Friday, 8/14 to enter!

Grocery Goodness

I've been trying really hardly lately to use coupons and sales to cut down our grocery bill... today was the best day EVER. Here are my stats:

I spent out of pocket $80.64
I saved $89.90
PLUS I have a rebate to send in for a $10 Publix giftcard b/c of things I bought today!

Holey Moley.

Yay!

Night-time Prayers

The last part of Zola's bed-time routine goes a little something like this... We're rocking in her room and she's nursing, the lights are off and we say our prayers...

Me: Now I lay me... (and the rest of it)

Zola: Amen (she stops nursing for her part)

Me: And what are we thankful for today?

Zola: Dada

Me: I'm thankful for dada too. I'm thankful for the way he (insert something great grant did that day). What else are we thankful for?

Zola: (still nursing)

Me: I'm thankful for (insert whatever happened that day)

Zola: Mama

Me: Oh, so you're thankful for mama too? Well I'm thankful for you. I love you very much.

Zola: (continues nursing)

Me: Guide us as we wake, O Lord and guard us as we sleep. So that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.

Zola: Peas? mmmm.... (lip-smacking)

Me: Let's pray for our sleep tonight. (I continue to pray for the night, good sleep, etc. at some point I usually say the word Jesus)

Zola: Cheese?

Me: No. I said Jesus.

Zola: Cheese...mmmm.... (lip-smacking)

Me: All done?

Zola: Done. Blankie? Bunny?

Then we snuggle with blankie and bunny for a few minutes before I put her in the crib and she gets comfortable and goes to sleep.

What a fun way to end the day.

27 Things

So, yesterday was my birthday and you know what that means... lots of alcohol and crazy, naked streaking through the neighborhood. Actually that's a lie... I'm still nursing so there wasn't any alcohol.

It also means that my new list is complete. After assessing the 26 things I was supposed to do last year (before I turned 26) I realize that I may have overestimated my abilities. Did I really think that I would finish several scrapbooks, sell my jewelry, write a book, tour the capitol and paint my house- all while trying to figure out how to raise a new baby? Since it was my first trying the list I'll give myself a break. I did however finish over half and I'm going to migrate several items I didn't finish over to this year.

And since my friend Jessica over at ...the geib gossip... reminded me today that I hadn't updated my blog in a while (your turn now jessica!) I figured I should go ahead and start my 26th year with at least the appearance of being organized. And so, without further ado, here's my list:

1. Learn to (and do it!) cook something German
2. Make Zola a super cool felt board
3. Finish Zola's first year scrapbook
4. Frame and hang our family photo
5. Send my sister's random packages/letters
6. Get, frame and hang Zola's one year photo
7. Eat a meal at Reangthai
8. Make peppermint bark (yummm...)
9. Take Zola to the Tallahassee Junior Museum
10. Send something (anything!?) off to a publisher (not something for work)
11. Make Zola a picture book of family members
12. Host a BBMC scrapbook night
13. Make Valentine's Day cookies (like with my mom when I was little)
14. Take Grant on a surprise date (shhhh!)
15. Only trim my hair (no major cuts)
16. See "Gone with the Wind"
17. Make Zola an outfit (that we will not be embarrassed for her to wear out of the house)
18. Create a weekly schedule
19. Do a painting project with Zola
20. Learn how to make bagels and share them with friends (if edible!)
21. Try a starfruit
22. Read "Jane Eyre"
23. Tie-dye lots of stuff
24. Make Zola some slippers
25. Make cookies for Grant's office
26. Try a new wine
27. Invite friends over for a themed dinner

Post-Holiday Joyousness

I love the day after a holiday. No one has to cook because there are so many leftovers. And the shopping deals are fabulous if you venture out. And everyone is smiling in their sweet potato induced food coma.

Oh, and you can eat pumpkin pie for breakfast.

Sleep?

We're back to obsessing about sleep again. Or the lack thereof.



I have recently begun the night-weaning process and we've gone from Zola nursing 6-8 times to only once or twice per night. Amazing. Plus she was going down each night so easily... we followed our routine and I could put her down awake with no problems.



But (isn't there always one of these?)...



the last 3 days have been rough. She's still only nursing once at night but she's been restless and not wanting to go to bed. Crying and then going to sleep for less than five minutes before waking up and crying again. And she won't let me leave her room. She will snuggle into her bed and I will think she's asleep, wait a few minutes, but as soon as I put one foot out the door she's sitting up, wide awake, crying. This has been happening in the middle of the night too... one night she was up off and on for 2.5 hours.


And the napping has been just as bad. She'll sleep for 20-30 minutes and then not want to go back to sleep. A couple of times I've been able to hold her and she'll doze for a bit longer.



I'm exhausted. And going crazy with the lack of personal time.



She did this around 10 months... I remember the restlessness- that's what led to the 6-8 nursings at night... I'm hoping we don't go down that path again.



I think it's a growth spurt... she's been looking really chunky lately (more so than usual, that is) and that's what happens right before we notice she's gotten taller. She's also becoming more agile- climbing, walking faster, etc. And her vocabulary has been expanding at a rapid rate... All things that lead to restlessness and clinginess.



On the brighter side- Zola has been so good at playing by herself recently. She will wonder off and find her toys or more often her books and entertain herself for 40 minutes at a time at least once and sometimes twice a day. It's been fun to watch her imagination at work and especially fun to hear her singsong voice as she reads to herself.

After the Low-Country Shrimp Boil Party on Amelia Island

Zola Turns ONE!

Well Bugga...yesterday was your first birthday. Yep. In one day you went from being months old to being an entire year old. 365 days. Your dad and I keep wondering what we did before we had you. Especially now that you're walking... you keep us busy every second of the day.

We had a fun time yesterday... a small party with our close-by family and a couple of our friends... cake and ice cream... snacks and presents. Oh and lots and lots of balloons.

You and your dad like to make funny faces.

In fact ever since you woke up from your nap yesterday afternoon and came downstairs to see the many balloons tied to chairs and the banister and your highchair and your changing table... you have run around pointing and letting us know about all of the "baaallloooons!!" I think it's your new favorite word... along with puppy and uh-oh, of course.

And speaking of cake... you didn't put your face in it like some kids (myself included, just ask your Gma about it) but you did stick your finger in the middle of a flower. Your Grandpa Buddy was standing by very excited- he would touch your arm and encourage you grab the cake but you held back and took your own time and eventually you did end up with the essential bits of icing smeared across your face and up your arm.

You were also very keen on sharing your cake with everyone. I'm pretty sure most of the people in the room licked some sugary goodness off your fingers.

So your first birthday is over but I've been told this happens every year.

As I watched you today you actually seemed older. Those four (!) upper teeth are helping out with that. And your walking is less 'frankensteiny' and your vocabulary is expanding and your play-time is more imaginative and you sit and ask us to read for longer and longer periods of time and you are starting to assert your independence in not always wanting to be carried and in deciding for yourself what you will or will not eat... you are growing up. And your parents just don't know how much more of this they can take.

The other day you said "I love you Dada." That was the first sentence you put together yourself. Your father melted. Keep it up and he might actually buy you a car for your sixteenth.

I love you baby girl.

Mom

Musings

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post... being that my husband is a founding (and currently only) member of HAB I can now tell you that we've been out of town. We spent last week in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island just outside of Jacksonville... and it was FABULOUS.

Grant had another training class so Zola and I spent our days strolling around the island, swinging a park, walking around the marina and getting diet cokes at a very cool local restaurant- T.Rays (well, that one was just me). If you are ever looking for a vacation spot in Florida, Amelia Island would be a great choice. There are tons of great shops and restaurants and you can walk from one side (intercoastal waterway) with the marina and ships to the other side (beach!). And we also totally reccommend our hotel.

We got back last night and spent today unpacking and cleaning up around the house (well..Grant spent the day doing laundry and then watching the Gator game) because tomorrow is ZOLA'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

I can't believe the baby that was trying to kick her way out of my stomach at this time last year is already turning one. We're having a little bitty party for her tomorrow and hopefully I'll get some pictures up next week.

On another note I made a really fun dinner tonight. Publix was not on our list of things to do today so I had to make-do with what I had on hand and I must tell you it turned out pretty tasty. Last week Grant's favorite salad dressing was on sale- BOGO- but they only had 5 on the shelf so I had to add one more to make the sale so I picked up a bottle of Kraft Italian Pesto Dressing and Marinade b/c I thought it looked like it might be good... Tonight I boiled some frozen chicken legs, warmed up some peas, sauteed a tomato and tossed it all with the dressing and a bag of these fat little football-shaped pastas. And b/c we love cheese we added a bit of parmesean- bravo to myself. Maybe you want to come over for leftovers tomorrow. :)

Pumpkinhead Zola

Some cute shots from our visit to the pumpkin patch. It was the first time she had seen pumpkins and she was very excited. So much so that we bought one and have taken it everywhere with us over the last couple of weeks.

Edited by my sister, Stevie

11 Months

All of a sudden we have a walking, talking toddler. Zola is walking all over the house, climbing everything and adding new words to her vocabulary every other day. These are the words we understand:

Hi, Mama, Dada, Amen, Book, Ball, Baby, Hey

She's also singing (La La La), saying 'moo' when she sees a cow, and trying to repeat whatever we say. Her third tooth has recently made it's appearance. Teething seems to be getting harder for her with each tooth. This one is on top and it took weeks to break through- including several rough nights and purlpe, blistery gums. It will be really sad if this is what she has to look forward to for the next year.

Things are not slowing down over here travel-wise either- St. George Island, A stop in Pensacola, and 2 weeks in New Orleans. Here are our favorite shots (pumpkin patch photos to follow in another post):

St. George Island, FL

Walking on Pensacola Beach

New Orleans, LA

The view from a hotel room

How Grant and Zola spent the evenings...reading, "Moo, Baa, La La La"

Photo shoot in a cool park downtown

Zola LOVED dancing with the street musicians

Photo shoot in a beautiful courtyard we came across

In the hotel dining room

The Audubon Aquarium - So fun!

Please don't poo on me!

Petting a shark

It's the extremely rare ZolaFish

Happy Birthday Grant! At the Crazy Lobster... After trying a fabulous Hurricane.

Sundays (or Mondays) are for Food

Sunday: Cubed Pork Steaks, mashed potatoes, peas

Monday: Black Bean Enchiladas, fresh pineapple

Tuesday: Book Club for me (yay for margaritas!), so husband will be having leftovers from Sunday- minus peas, plus broccoli

Wednesday: Out

Thursday: Leftover Enchiladas

Friday: Usually homemade pizza but we have company this week so I will be making pasta shells stuffed with pears and asiago cheese in a light red sauce, and some kind of chicken and bread and salad

And on This Week for Dinner, Jane has promised an upcoming recipe for Thai Chicken Pizza...mmm... I am looking forward to that for next week.