Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Getting into something
So today I was in the kitchen, washing up the dishes from breakfast, and I realized that I didn't hear Milo at all playing in the living room. I immediately stuck my head around the corner, prepared for him to be into something he shouldn't be... Well, can you imagine what my little darling was actually into?
Oh yes, my precious child was into books. (sigh) He's his mama's son, that's for sure.
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| Yeah, it's upside down. So? |
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
That's what Nanas are for
Milo loves his Nana. Who else would sit and read with him while he's sopping wet and just out of the tub? That's what Nanas are for! See how irritated he looks at the interruption for a picture?
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Black Friday
I forgot to mention that only two Black Friday purchases were made in my home, neither by me. I know, I know, I'm falling down on the job here, right? Does anyone love to shop as much as I? But take a look. Nate does good work...
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| Little Lion hat - $14.99 at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. |
Rainy Saturday Mornings
How does one keep up with a busy little toddler boy? This morning I found two little cuts on one of his hands, and a popped blister on the inside of the other. What in the world? So I had to whip out my mom's tried and true method for treating any childhood boo-boo - neosporin and a band-aid. Well, half of it, because a band-aid would go straight into Milo's mouth in the time it took me throw away the wrapper. Rest assured, his little hands have been doctored up and we're enjoying the lovely rainy weather.
Anyway, here's to Saturday mornings - our special time. We stay in our pjs until after Milo's first nap, chase the dogs around, read endless books, do some intense cuddling, and even take a few breakfast photos.
Anyway, here's to Saturday mornings - our special time. We stay in our pjs until after Milo's first nap, chase the dogs around, read endless books, do some intense cuddling, and even take a few breakfast photos.
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| Interestingly enough, I look like I have a sideburn in this picture (haha). But look at my little posing man. He's got the technique down already. |
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Before and After Shots - Williams Room
I know I've mentioned it before, but my husband is a genius. He's an artist and a genius, which is a very sexy combination, and so I have to show off a little bit today. He renovated our little nieces' room, and it turned out amazingly well.
It's hard to move into a house that is covered in a lot of wood paneling. How do you warm it up for little girls without having to completely plaster over it? Since this room was a trial run and we volunteered to foot the cost if we could use the space, we were working with a limited budget (and a limited amount of time). So Nate painted right over that paneling instead...
Check out these before and afters!
It's hard to move into a house that is covered in a lot of wood paneling. How do you warm it up for little girls without having to completely plaster over it? Since this room was a trial run and we volunteered to foot the cost if we could use the space, we were working with a limited budget (and a limited amount of time). So Nate painted right over that paneling instead...
Check out these before and afters!
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| Before - Kaylee's corner |
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| After - Kaylee's corner |
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| Before - Lily's corner |
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| After - Lily's corner |
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| Before - Kaylee's half of the "bed wall" |
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| After - Kaylee's half of the bed wall |
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| Before - Lily's half of the bed wall |
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| After - Lily's half of the bed wall |
Monday, November 21, 2011
Run, fat girl!
There I was, enjoying a 6:30 a.m. run, feeling my legs work and my heart pump, waving at kids waiting for their buses and feeling thankful for life in general. And then I heard it.
"Run, fat girl, run!!!"
I looked around for the fat girl, feeling sorry for her and even considering joining up with her if she was trying to whip herself into shape alone. But there was no one else out running.
"Run, fat girl, run!!!"
There was no mistaking what I had heard, and the group of middle school kids it was coming from seemed highly amused. Seriously, if there was someone out with a weight problem, I was going to pummel those kids. What in the world?
The ringleader looked right at me and hollered again, "Run, fat girl, run!"
And then I realized that the "fat girl" was I.
My mind started racing. Oh my word, have I gained that much weight since I stopped marathon training? I know I haven't run much lately, but surely I can pick it up. Should I stop drinking so many decaf lattes? Oh to be a girl in a world where the more you resemble a clothes rack, the more you're applauded.
But I stopped. No, there's no fat girl here. I may not be a rail, but by golly, I am thin enough, and no little punk on his way to school is going to make me feel any differently. I wanted to stop right there and have a conversation with those kids about how your words can tear people down, and you never know what kind of background a person might have. I wonder if I had stopped if he would have said it to my face, or if he'd have been a little less brave. But any pause in my run was going to be giving in to someone completely unworthy of my very precious time, and he didn't deserve a bit of attention. So I continued, calmly resisting the urge to flip that little twerp the double bird and ran on my merry way (more because there were parents out than because I'm exceedingly mature). And as Tyra Banks would say, he can kiss my fat a**.
Happy Monday!!!
"Run, fat girl, run!!!"
I looked around for the fat girl, feeling sorry for her and even considering joining up with her if she was trying to whip herself into shape alone. But there was no one else out running.
"Run, fat girl, run!!!"
There was no mistaking what I had heard, and the group of middle school kids it was coming from seemed highly amused. Seriously, if there was someone out with a weight problem, I was going to pummel those kids. What in the world?
The ringleader looked right at me and hollered again, "Run, fat girl, run!"
And then I realized that the "fat girl" was I.
My mind started racing. Oh my word, have I gained that much weight since I stopped marathon training? I know I haven't run much lately, but surely I can pick it up. Should I stop drinking so many decaf lattes? Oh to be a girl in a world where the more you resemble a clothes rack, the more you're applauded.
But I stopped. No, there's no fat girl here. I may not be a rail, but by golly, I am thin enough, and no little punk on his way to school is going to make me feel any differently. I wanted to stop right there and have a conversation with those kids about how your words can tear people down, and you never know what kind of background a person might have. I wonder if I had stopped if he would have said it to my face, or if he'd have been a little less brave. But any pause in my run was going to be giving in to someone completely unworthy of my very precious time, and he didn't deserve a bit of attention. So I continued, calmly resisting the urge to flip that little twerp the double bird and ran on my merry way (more because there were parents out than because I'm exceedingly mature). And as Tyra Banks would say, he can kiss my fat a**.
Happy Monday!!!
Friday, November 18, 2011
My Sweet Little Man
I know, I know. You're already thinking it. But it's truly ridiculous how cute this child is...
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| Fun with Daddy's hat |
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| It's amazing how long Milo will leave a hat on... |
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| ...sometimes just because he can't quite get it off. |
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| He was proud of himself when he showed Daddy, though! |
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Crisis Management 101
I have an aversion to blood.
Well, wait a minute. That statement isn't entirely accurate. I love blood when it's pumping through the body, doing its thang and keeping the heart healthy. I do, however, have a problem with it when it manages to make an escape in front of me, though...
I like to think of myself as someone who is level-headed and calm, who could take on a crisis without batting an eye. However, when I'm honest with myself, I have to admit one impediment. The sight of blood makes me a.) pass out, b.) say "Gheeeeeeeee," or c.) most often a combination of both.
Now, could you think of an instance in which it would be inappropriate to pass out or say "Gheeeeeeee" (or both)? Well, let's just pretend that you are the mommy of a toddler. And let's just say that toddler manages to crawl everywhere and get into everything. And let's also mention that said toddler loves to touch absolutely everything he can.
And then let's just imagine that this precious little toddler manages to crawl into the craft room with you and in less than a minute, get his hands on several of the glass pieces from used picture frames (remember the Milo craft we did Sunday?). You would, of course, hustle that toddler on out of the craft room and get on with your day, right? Crisis averted. Whew! But wait. You would notice several minutes later that there is a trail of crimson following your toddler around the dining room and he is literally holding a handful of blood.
Now, pause. How do you react? Do you pass out or say "Gheeeeeeeee"? Do you completely lose your head, sit on the floor, and burst into sobs? Absolutely not, because that would be completely inappropriate (despite what you would like to do). So you instead take a deep breath, snatch up that baby, and spend at least 20 minutes trying to figure out where the cut actually is, how bad it is, and then stop the bleeding. In the midst of this, you might make a phone call to your husband and leave him what you imagine to be a very calm voicemail (he will call you back later laughing at your almost unintelligible message). You might perhaps go through countless bandaids and wound strips, trying to figure out a way to distract your child from noticing them on his finger and then fishing them out of his mouth almost immediately. And you finally end up rocking him back and forth in front of a mirror while wrapping his hand in a dish towel and trying to elevate it above heart level. And the only relief you have would be that your child seems completely unaffected by the whole thing and doesn't seem to be in any pain.
"Wow, Kate, sounds like you've thought this scenario through completely. What's up with that?"
Let's just say I know a girl this might have happened to today. And on a side note, the child was fine. His cut stopped bleeding and sealed itself shut, and just like spit-up, blood apparently appears like a lot more than it is when it's on the floor, your shirt, your arm, your face, etc. He went on his merry way, and only after he was down for a nap did his mommy even consider saying "Gheeeeeeeeee."
Well, wait a minute. That statement isn't entirely accurate. I love blood when it's pumping through the body, doing its thang and keeping the heart healthy. I do, however, have a problem with it when it manages to make an escape in front of me, though...
I like to think of myself as someone who is level-headed and calm, who could take on a crisis without batting an eye. However, when I'm honest with myself, I have to admit one impediment. The sight of blood makes me a.) pass out, b.) say "Gheeeeeeeee," or c.) most often a combination of both.
Now, could you think of an instance in which it would be inappropriate to pass out or say "Gheeeeeeee" (or both)? Well, let's just pretend that you are the mommy of a toddler. And let's just say that toddler manages to crawl everywhere and get into everything. And let's also mention that said toddler loves to touch absolutely everything he can.
And then let's just imagine that this precious little toddler manages to crawl into the craft room with you and in less than a minute, get his hands on several of the glass pieces from used picture frames (remember the Milo craft we did Sunday?). You would, of course, hustle that toddler on out of the craft room and get on with your day, right? Crisis averted. Whew! But wait. You would notice several minutes later that there is a trail of crimson following your toddler around the dining room and he is literally holding a handful of blood.
Now, pause. How do you react? Do you pass out or say "Gheeeeeeeee"? Do you completely lose your head, sit on the floor, and burst into sobs? Absolutely not, because that would be completely inappropriate (despite what you would like to do). So you instead take a deep breath, snatch up that baby, and spend at least 20 minutes trying to figure out where the cut actually is, how bad it is, and then stop the bleeding. In the midst of this, you might make a phone call to your husband and leave him what you imagine to be a very calm voicemail (he will call you back later laughing at your almost unintelligible message). You might perhaps go through countless bandaids and wound strips, trying to figure out a way to distract your child from noticing them on his finger and then fishing them out of his mouth almost immediately. And you finally end up rocking him back and forth in front of a mirror while wrapping his hand in a dish towel and trying to elevate it above heart level. And the only relief you have would be that your child seems completely unaffected by the whole thing and doesn't seem to be in any pain.
"Wow, Kate, sounds like you've thought this scenario through completely. What's up with that?"
Let's just say I know a girl this might have happened to today. And on a side note, the child was fine. His cut stopped bleeding and sealed itself shut, and just like spit-up, blood apparently appears like a lot more than it is when it's on the floor, your shirt, your arm, your face, etc. He went on his merry way, and only after he was down for a nap did his mommy even consider saying "Gheeeeeeeeee."
Monday, November 14, 2011
End o' vacation
I know there are nights when you've awakened in a cold sweat, frantically thinking, "What on earth would the Jackson family look like in Davy Crockett raccoon hats?"
Well, just to put your mind at east, here you go. Thank you, Gruene, Texas for making it all possible.
Well, just to put your mind at east, here you go. Thank you, Gruene, Texas for making it all possible.
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| Definitely not one of my best looks. I have to admit, I was somewhat disturbed putting on something designed to look like the hind end of an animal... |
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| This child is cute in anything. |
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| There are no words to express how much this makes me laugh. |
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| Super sleepy little guy |
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Milo frame wall
I think Nate caught the DIY bug yesterday as I was cranking out more t-shirt scarves. We've been talking about replacing some of the artwork in Milo's room, and he had an idea for a simple and adorable project for the wall.
1. Frame scrapbook paper in whatever colors and patterns you want.
2. Cut out letters from felt.
3. Glue the letters to the scrapbook paper.
4. Ditch the glass on the frames so you don't get a glare.
5. Hang the frames and voila, lovely.
1. Frame scrapbook paper in whatever colors and patterns you want.
2. Cut out letters from felt.
3. Glue the letters to the scrapbook paper.
4. Ditch the glass on the frames so you don't get a glare.
5. Hang the frames and voila, lovely.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
I've got a hat on my head
Ahhh, more crafting. I didn't technically make these today, but I did pin them on this hat today. Does that count?
The wonder of the carrot
Wow, I'm johnny-on-the-spot with the updates today.
But I couldn't resist letting Milo show off his favorite (completely supervised, of course) chew toy - the simple carrot stick.
Now, of course he can't just roam about freely with this one, which makes it a little sad compared to something squishy. But look at him get after it!
One carrot stick + one teething baby = peace and smiles for all.
But I couldn't resist letting Milo show off his favorite (completely supervised, of course) chew toy - the simple carrot stick.
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| Like I said, simple carrot stick |
One carrot stick + one teething baby = peace and smiles for all.
Getting crafty with it
I've been getting crafty the last few days.
First plan of action, headband for little Lily's dedication. Could I have a better model? I think not. She is too precious!!!
Second plan of action, t-shirt scarf that I pinned weeks ago. Today I just got right down to it. It turned out a little shorter than I had planned, but all in all, I'd say it's a good first attempt.
Coming very soon... A recipe for brownie balls. Woo-hoo! Happy crafting!
First plan of action, headband for little Lily's dedication. Could I have a better model? I think not. She is too precious!!!
Second plan of action, t-shirt scarf that I pinned weeks ago. Today I just got right down to it. It turned out a little shorter than I had planned, but all in all, I'd say it's a good first attempt.
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| BONUS: This also doubles as a Tarzan, King of the Jungle climbing rope if you have a super-wiggly little toddler (which I do...). |
Coming very soon... A recipe for brownie balls. Woo-hoo! Happy crafting!
He knows what he likes
Look at this sassy face. We experimented with a turtleneck today since it was pretty cold in the house. Guess I'll just turn the heat up instead, because this child was ticked. Needless to say, I don't think he was a fan of anything touching his neck.
Friday, November 11, 2011
JogMom
I'm making that awkward transition from MarathonMom to JogMom.
And oh, it's practically painful.
Give me 15 miles on my own and I feel fun and free. Give me 4 miles pushing a jog stroller and I feel like I've wrestled an elephant.
I will, say, though... This makes it worth it.
And oh, it's practically painful.
Give me 15 miles on my own and I feel fun and free. Give me 4 miles pushing a jog stroller and I feel like I've wrestled an elephant.
I will, say, though... This makes it worth it.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Natural Bridge Caverns
We went to an amazing place outside of San Antonio called the Natural Bridge Caverns. They were basically underground areas created when a sinkhole collapsed who knows how many years ago... I can't remember the last time I stood in a place that seemed so much like a naturally made temple. I was in awe, and I couldn't quite snap a photo that did it justice. Here are my feeble attempts, though.
Amazing, right?
And, of course, we couldn't resist snapping some family photos. Milo rode around in a pack on Nate's back that he absolutely adored. He literally cried when we took him out of it. Such a handy thing to have on a vacation - it made us feel much more mobile than the stroller did.
I will say, I had some pretty amazing hair by the time we left. The temperature inside the caverns was 70 degrees, and the humidity was 99%. WOW. Good thing I didn't bother to straighten that morning... Or put on makeup... Or really do much of anything... Ahhhh, vacation.
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| I seriously could have just stayed here and breathed it all in for hours. |
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| I felt so tiny here! |
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| EXQUISITE. |
Amazing, right?
And, of course, we couldn't resist snapping some family photos. Milo rode around in a pack on Nate's back that he absolutely adored. He literally cried when we took him out of it. Such a handy thing to have on a vacation - it made us feel much more mobile than the stroller did.
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| The two handomest men on the planet. |
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| See how happy Milo is? He loved the caverns and the pack. In fact, after a while, he put his head on Nate's shoulder and went to sleep. |
I will say, I had some pretty amazing hair by the time we left. The temperature inside the caverns was 70 degrees, and the humidity was 99%. WOW. Good thing I didn't bother to straighten that morning... Or put on makeup... Or really do much of anything... Ahhhh, vacation.
The Alamo
So we saw a number of cool things in San Antonio, one of them being the Alamo. Nate has lectured me on the Alamo ever since we got married, telling me that Texas was the only state that was its own nation, reminding me that Texas can fly its state flag as high as the country's flag, etc. etc. etc. We've always had the North vs. South, Illinois vs. Texas stand-off, and I've been skeptical. But I have to admit, visiting the Alamo was a little humbling, seeing where people who believed in freedom so much that they were willing to die for it made their last stand. At one point I saw an older woman chowing on an ice cream bar and I wanted to smack it out of her hand and shout, "Have some respect!" Okay, maybe I'm becoming a little Texas-proud?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Goal on Hold
Ever have one of those moments that kind of stops you in your tracks?
Milo was sick last week. And I mean high fever, constantly cranky, freaked me out kind of sick. Then again, he's never even run a fever before, so it was extra startling...
I found myself praying over him constantly and trying to figure out how this had happened. Had I exposed him to something I shouldn't have? Was he eating something he shouldn't? Was he just plain exhausted?
And then it hit me. Oh man, it hit me hard. Milo hasn't been resting for a while now. And then again, neither have I. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I could almost tell you exactly when he'd stopped resting very well... It was exactly the time I started getting less sleep myself. That's right. Marathon training.
I wanted to say it wasn't true, but I realized that I've been pushing myself harder and harder all the time lately, and the more I pushed, the less he slept. The less we both slept, come to think of it. I didn't want to admit all of this, though, because I'm good at running. And some days, it felt like running was the only thing I was good at. Blech.
Anyway, all this to say, with a month left of training, it's not worth it anymore. It's weird to stop training for something other than an injury, but I've got to do what's best for my little man. So as of last week, after a lot of crying and mourning, I put my goal on hold. It's all for the best.
Someday I'm going to run a marathon.
It's just that my someday won't be this December 4th.
Milo was sick last week. And I mean high fever, constantly cranky, freaked me out kind of sick. Then again, he's never even run a fever before, so it was extra startling...
I found myself praying over him constantly and trying to figure out how this had happened. Had I exposed him to something I shouldn't have? Was he eating something he shouldn't? Was he just plain exhausted?
And then it hit me. Oh man, it hit me hard. Milo hasn't been resting for a while now. And then again, neither have I. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I could almost tell you exactly when he'd stopped resting very well... It was exactly the time I started getting less sleep myself. That's right. Marathon training.
I wanted to say it wasn't true, but I realized that I've been pushing myself harder and harder all the time lately, and the more I pushed, the less he slept. The less we both slept, come to think of it. I didn't want to admit all of this, though, because I'm good at running. And some days, it felt like running was the only thing I was good at. Blech.
Anyway, all this to say, with a month left of training, it's not worth it anymore. It's weird to stop training for something other than an injury, but I've got to do what's best for my little man. So as of last week, after a lot of crying and mourning, I put my goal on hold. It's all for the best.
Someday I'm going to run a marathon.
It's just that my someday won't be this December 4th.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Creepers
Ann's roommate Tia and some of her classmates made this video, and it totally cracked me up. Just thought I'd share!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5pVENpwaO8&feature=colike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5pVENpwaO8&feature=colike
Monday, November 7, 2011
Remember me?
Were you wondering if I'd disappeared?
Well, a lot has happened since I last wrote. Milo was sick, which shut my whole world down (more on that later).
And then we went on vacation to San Antonio. Woo-hoo! Nate's been promising me a trip to San Antonio since we got married, and we finally did it 6 1/2 years later.
Just a sneak peek of all the fun...
Well, a lot has happened since I last wrote. Milo was sick, which shut my whole world down (more on that later).
And then we went on vacation to San Antonio. Woo-hoo! Nate's been promising me a trip to San Antonio since we got married, and we finally did it 6 1/2 years later.
Just a sneak peek of all the fun...
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| Look closely - impromptu family photo |
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