Ha, I haven't blogged since May 2012. Wow. We have a baby now and moved back to the Charlotte area...I should include more details, but that's not why I came to blog...
I've been a mom for almost a whole year now so I consider myself a baby expert...hahahahahaaaaaahaaah. K, not even close, but I have learned a lot. Several friends are also becoming moms for the first time and I want to share my must-have items... This will not be fancy and there won't be links, but this blog is just the best format to make the list.
Also these are (obvs) based on our own personal experience...
a book that makes noise when you turn a page. be prepared to be fully annoyed by whatever song it is, but I enjoy the annoyance really because Hudson will sit there and do this over and over and over while I wash dishes or whatever...
ok, here's a link because toy is too hard to describe otherwise
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BNCA4K/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1#
Hudson could play with this at around 3 months and he still loves it. one toy that keeps him happy for 9 months? yeah...that's a good one
an ipad kid's cover. not so he can play with it, but it's so great for Skype when he's on the move. makes it easy to carry and I don't hit all the buttons and screen on accident so I don't hang up on the grandparents!
porch swing. sometimes when he's fussy no matter what we do, just being outside makes him happy. our deck is splinter city, so I can't put him down yet so sitting in the swing is the best.
multiple favorite pacis. this has been a night saver. he sucks on one and twirls another. he MOVES in his sleep so sometimes he stirs and he has moved away from the paci, if there are a handful in there, he doesn't have to go far to find it and goes right back to sleep easily.
leads me to the next item...we know about the pacis because we watch him on the video monitor
our first model, an actual video baby monitor, got dunked in some water (way to go, Mom), and replacing it was a $200+ cost we couldn't justify. so we went a month without it and I thought I was gonna lose my mind. So we got a basic home surveillance cam with smartphone app. it was half the price of a real baby monitor. you can't see the temp or talk to him, but I always thought that was a little creepy. I leave the ipad up on the nightstand to be able to see in the middle of the night.
jogging stroller. this is great for walks and for running, obvs, but it's also been so great at baseball games (Mike is coaching baseball now too). he can sit in that and there is a tray for dinner and pockets for all my stuff and I can roll him around when he gets bored. he's close to walking so he'll probably want out soon, but for now, it's perfect. also, baseball fields aren't usually near the parking lot, so it's nice to not carry him and all our stuff down a huge hill and back up afterwards
ergo. for the places that the jogging stroller can't go, or could but it's crowded, the ergo is a must. I've read a lot about the baby bjorn doing weird things to hip development and also that the other brands put major strain on your back. honestly, it's not the easiest thing to tote around, take on and off, but it is so worth it. the infant insert is annoying, I didn't really start to rely on it until he could hold his head up a little. it was so easy to get him plus stuff in and out of football games and he slept in it at football games. I love it for shopping...he can sit in the cart now, but I don't always get a cart. the hip position is his favorite now, he can see out that way and my arms don't go numb from carrying him. it was also great for air travel...
take and toss stuff. so cheap, so durable. the bowls with lids are the best for school lunch.
something to push. once he started cruising, he has spent at least half his play time pushing something around. doesn't matter what it is. he has a great little ride on car thingy and a gator toy made specifically to walk behind but he also pushed his music table and child sized chairs.
the most important take away from this is the most important stuff is what makes mom and dad's life easier. Is that selfish? maybe. but he's so easy to please, there aren't many "must haves" for him...(other than you know food, diapers, and shelter)
ok, might as well continue.
pampers swaddlers seemed to work best when he was littler...but he's a size 3 now and the Wal-Mart brand has been great (he even sleeps 11 hours a night). they are 20 bucks for 160 or something like that.
we are lucky and he seems to have a tummy of steel and did pretty well on any formula we gave him. every time you go to the pediatrician, ask for a sample!! but we liked target and Walmart brand formula, but Costco was really frothy.
now, I make most of his food and I have yet to use a "baby food recipe"...just grind it up (we use the food processor we already have) and throw in some pepper or cinnamon or garlic or basil/oregano. don't give up on a food after one try. I do enjoy having the infantino thing where you can fill your own pouch. after puree stage, just roast or steam, season, and dice. done. I buy pouches at the store sometimes for emergencies, but I have yet to buy a jar of food. I really like thinking about the money we've saved.
hope that's helpful. if not for you, maybe it will be for me whenever we have another one, God willing.
:)
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
I voted...
...for love. As my Jesus taught me.
This old school Christianity madness has gone on long enough.
As Christians, we are commanded to LOVE. period. nothing else. There are no rules for us to follow. If you do everything you do out of love, you will find yourself following the ten commandments. Other than that, the "rules" are arbitrary.
I'm sad that there are Christians leaders who spin God's word and make it seem as if good Christians are only those who follow these strict crazy rules and oppress, judge, and hate others in the well-intentioned process.
Unfortunately, I'm afraid there will be many that vote yes today, because a Christian leader mis-informed them and made them feel as if they were a bad Christian, going against the bible, if they voted no today.
One of my most favorite sermons was about Jesus and the people he built relationships with. If a sinner invited Jesus to dinner, say, a prostitute, and offered Jesus meat on Friday (or whichever day that people think it's wrong), Jesus would have eaten that meat. By having a meal with that person, and having some meat, he built a relationship and was able to spread God's good word...which is LOVE by the way.
For those of you that believe that homosexuality is a sin and that gay folks won't get into heaven...let's analyze how many adulterers you know, many even leaders within your church community. Shall you shun them as you shun homosexuals? Not usually. Pastors are accepted back to their churches ALL the time (as they should be). Why, WHY, WHY is it different with homosexuality? How is it different from any other of our perceived human sins?
For those of you about to counter with "adulterers ask for forgiveness" or "murderers ask for forgiveness" and then never do it again, and THOSE people can be accepted back into God's arms....I give you this back...
How many times today did you cuss? How many times today did you think even the slightest mean thing of another person? How many times in your life have you gone faster than the speed limit (even by five miles an hour?)?
ALL SINS
Murder, Lying, Stealing, Breaking the Law....there are no "small" sins. Sins are sins.
So therefore, YOU, YOU, as a SINNER, have no right, no place, to place any judgment or oppression on others you perceive as sinners.
God loves each of us and asks us to do the same.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Pancake Muffins
I love pancakes but hate making them...saw a random blurb for pancake muffins and thought it was genius!
Posting this here so I'll have a reminder for myself.
I adapted this recipe http://www.grouprecipes.com/30249/easy-pancake-muffins.html
I used bisquick: 2 cups mix, 1 egg, 1 cup soy milk, and added a splash of vanilla.
Baked for about 15 minutes...
Perfect in the middle but had to cut off the bottoms, the paper stuck... Wonder if that means I baked them too long?
I dunno how to post pics since I'm writing this on an iPad...will put pic on fb & twitter...
Ok, here's the link to the twitpic, we'll see if this works...
https://twitter.com/aceymorgan/status/158586209575256064
Posting this here so I'll have a reminder for myself.
I adapted this recipe http://www.grouprecipes.com/30249/easy-pancake-muffins.html
I used bisquick: 2 cups mix, 1 egg, 1 cup soy milk, and added a splash of vanilla.
Baked for about 15 minutes...
Perfect in the middle but had to cut off the bottoms, the paper stuck... Wonder if that means I baked them too long?
I dunno how to post pics since I'm writing this on an iPad...will put pic on fb & twitter...
Ok, here's the link to the twitpic, we'll see if this works...
https://twitter.com/aceymorgan/status/158586209575256064
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Coach Holmes
I am so proud of my husband, Coach Holmes.
It was God's sweet subtle moves that brought us to Candace and David, our across the street neighbors and newest good friends, and helped Mike get started in volunteering at Reynolds, but it was Mike's hard work that got him the job.
He worked harder and longer hours than even some of the paid coaches, not to show off or show up, but to show that he is dedicated. And it paid off. The head coach noticed, and appreciated, Mike's efforts.
Now that he is head JV coach and offensive backs coach for varsity, he is more tired than I've ever seen him but also happier than I've ever seen him, and if you know Mike, you know he's a pretty flippin' happy guy mist all of the time...
He's teaching Honors World History first block. He's got the textbook open and looks over his students' work every night he doesn't have a game. Games are Thursdays and Fridays (except when they're not, story to follow). JV Thursday at six (which I love attending-watching my husband work is a unique perk, not many wives get that opp, right Mir?) and Varsity-Friday at seven. You know I love football but high school people watching (kids AND parents) is so fun.
Not having him home til after 7 most nights and between 10-12 some nights has been a bit of a transition but it's so worth it knowing he's finally doing what he loves. I've been re-learning to cook and have time to actually be a wife (good riddance grad school!)
Reynolds JV is 1-2, Varsity is 2-1.
The most major change in our family as a result of all this is the laundry. The maroon and orange have almost completely been replaced with black and gold!
It was God's sweet subtle moves that brought us to Candace and David, our across the street neighbors and newest good friends, and helped Mike get started in volunteering at Reynolds, but it was Mike's hard work that got him the job.
He worked harder and longer hours than even some of the paid coaches, not to show off or show up, but to show that he is dedicated. And it paid off. The head coach noticed, and appreciated, Mike's efforts.
Now that he is head JV coach and offensive backs coach for varsity, he is more tired than I've ever seen him but also happier than I've ever seen him, and if you know Mike, you know he's a pretty flippin' happy guy mist all of the time...
He's teaching Honors World History first block. He's got the textbook open and looks over his students' work every night he doesn't have a game. Games are Thursdays and Fridays (except when they're not, story to follow). JV Thursday at six (which I love attending-watching my husband work is a unique perk, not many wives get that opp, right Mir?) and Varsity-Friday at seven. You know I love football but high school people watching (kids AND parents) is so fun.
Not having him home til after 7 most nights and between 10-12 some nights has been a bit of a transition but it's so worth it knowing he's finally doing what he loves. I've been re-learning to cook and have time to actually be a wife (good riddance grad school!)
Reynolds JV is 1-2, Varsity is 2-1.
The most major change in our family as a result of all this is the laundry. The maroon and orange have almost completely been replaced with black and gold!
Ardmore is hilly
Grad school is over! We live less than a mile away from my work! This means...TIME. free time, spare time, hours to kill. I love it. As most of you know, my darling husband turned me into a beer snob. I love craft beer, drinking it and learning more about it.
I also love running. Imagine my excitement when I started following a writer on twitter named TheBeerRunner! He extended a challenge to run every day and drink a beer every day for a week. I decided to give it a shot...
The last semester of grad school plus a 45 minute commute for an 8-5 gig had drastically cut back the # of miles I was running, so I decided this might be a good way to slowly increase my mileage. I ran just one mile most days, no more than 3 once a week. Well, Ardmore is hilly, so while I was not pushing myself mileage or speed wise, I was (unknowingly) pushing myself cartilage-wise, too hard. One Saturday, after a relatively slow one mile followed by our housewarming lunch cook out, I noticed that my right knee looked inflated.
Went to the doc, he suggested rest, PT, then running on flat surfaces. He was convinced it's the hills I've been running that was causing then problem. I walk and stand for 75% of my work day, but I was a good patient and came home every day for two weeks and rested the leg. No running, not even walking. Nothing was changing, if anything I was noticing more short pain twinges than before. Found out PT was going to cost a ridiculous amount of money and decided I wanted more info first. Got an MRI. I have/had chondromallacia patella. All the cartilage under my knee cap was peeling back like paint and it was affecting my patellar tendon. Doc offered surgery as an option, saying that it would be pointless for a 50 yr old but I had a good chance of it actually making a difference (I'll skip the part where this made me realize I'm almost 31...)
Surgery meant at least a week and a half out of work, but he also said it is a "if not now, then later" situation, so Mike and I chose now.
Arthroscopic surgery, no big deal, outpatient procedure under local anesthetic. Got leave for work all figured out (which included two minor breakdowns because of scheduling mishaps and discovering it meant 2 days without pay) and showed up for the surgery. I went by myself at 9am. Outpatient with local anesthetic and in needed to do pre-op before, so I figured I wouldn't actually go back until 11 ish. Mike was at work ( I just had him drop me off on his way to work at 8) mom was in Mississippi, and I didn't see any need for Alan to come from Greensboro so early.
Turns out they took me back at 9:30. Still no big deal, had a friend from work come downstairs to pick up my stuff. Then the anesthesiologist came in and started talking about airways.
(At the hospital, at least twice a week, I do a swallow study on patients who have been intubated.)
It dawns on me that airways are only a concern if you are really knocked out. Slight anxiety sets in and I text mike, "general anesthesia". I was glad that I didn't know before hand because I would have so much more anxious going into it, but the surprise of it wasn't great either. Any who, they set my IV (ask for lidocaine), knock me out, and then I woke up.
I was shaking uncontrollably, like shivering hard, but I wasn't cold. Then I started sobbing. My knee hurt, but not the kind of hurt that makes you cry. Mike and Alan were there with me, but it didn't seem to help to calm me down. The nurse got me a vicodin for the pain (an 8) and shot me up with some demorol to control the shaking and crying. She said it was probably from the versed. Don't look it up, it's kind of frightening. She said I was hyperventilating but I couldn't help it. Having been NPO since midnight, I asked for vanilla pudding (we have the good Hunts stuff at the hospital) but they didn't have any on that floor. And they just switched our Graham crackers from the yummy honey ones to nasty cardboard flavor. But I took what I could get. However, my mouth was so very dry, the crackers turned quickly into dusty paste that I physically could not swallow. Water helped some, but not completely. My voice was so hoarse. Nurse said it was from the dryness because of the oxygen. LIES.
This is what they put in me
http://www.anecare.com/Products/images/LMA-brief1.jpg
Only the slightest improvement over actual intubation...sheesh.
The hoarseness and soreness fortunately went away the next day...
In addition to the cartilage issue we knew about, they found three thumbnail size holes in my medial cartilage, which they were also able to fix!
I'm making good progress. We're on day five...
I can't add pictures to the blog from my iPad...
Should be able to see them here
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150282220344436.339800.530494435&l=096e224b2f&type=1
I've been doing PT every day, a little more each day. Needed two crutches the first day to get to the bathroom. Barely put any weight on it. Next day, two crutches with some weight. Third day, one crutch with weight on it. Fourth day, no crutches but a major limp. Fifth day, no crutches and can stand on that leg briefly! I'm amazed at how much it gets better each day. Second day I was worried about going back to work next Monday, but today, I think I could go back early!!
My first real PT appointment is Thursday, so we'll see then!!
Doc says I should be able to run 3 miles a day in 3-4 months! No more every day running for me though...
I also love running. Imagine my excitement when I started following a writer on twitter named TheBeerRunner! He extended a challenge to run every day and drink a beer every day for a week. I decided to give it a shot...
The last semester of grad school plus a 45 minute commute for an 8-5 gig had drastically cut back the # of miles I was running, so I decided this might be a good way to slowly increase my mileage. I ran just one mile most days, no more than 3 once a week. Well, Ardmore is hilly, so while I was not pushing myself mileage or speed wise, I was (unknowingly) pushing myself cartilage-wise, too hard. One Saturday, after a relatively slow one mile followed by our housewarming lunch cook out, I noticed that my right knee looked inflated.
Went to the doc, he suggested rest, PT, then running on flat surfaces. He was convinced it's the hills I've been running that was causing then problem. I walk and stand for 75% of my work day, but I was a good patient and came home every day for two weeks and rested the leg. No running, not even walking. Nothing was changing, if anything I was noticing more short pain twinges than before. Found out PT was going to cost a ridiculous amount of money and decided I wanted more info first. Got an MRI. I have/had chondromallacia patella. All the cartilage under my knee cap was peeling back like paint and it was affecting my patellar tendon. Doc offered surgery as an option, saying that it would be pointless for a 50 yr old but I had a good chance of it actually making a difference (I'll skip the part where this made me realize I'm almost 31...)
Surgery meant at least a week and a half out of work, but he also said it is a "if not now, then later" situation, so Mike and I chose now.
Arthroscopic surgery, no big deal, outpatient procedure under local anesthetic. Got leave for work all figured out (which included two minor breakdowns because of scheduling mishaps and discovering it meant 2 days without pay) and showed up for the surgery. I went by myself at 9am. Outpatient with local anesthetic and in needed to do pre-op before, so I figured I wouldn't actually go back until 11 ish. Mike was at work ( I just had him drop me off on his way to work at 8) mom was in Mississippi, and I didn't see any need for Alan to come from Greensboro so early.
Turns out they took me back at 9:30. Still no big deal, had a friend from work come downstairs to pick up my stuff. Then the anesthesiologist came in and started talking about airways.
(At the hospital, at least twice a week, I do a swallow study on patients who have been intubated.)
It dawns on me that airways are only a concern if you are really knocked out. Slight anxiety sets in and I text mike, "general anesthesia". I was glad that I didn't know before hand because I would have so much more anxious going into it, but the surprise of it wasn't great either. Any who, they set my IV (ask for lidocaine), knock me out, and then I woke up.
I was shaking uncontrollably, like shivering hard, but I wasn't cold. Then I started sobbing. My knee hurt, but not the kind of hurt that makes you cry. Mike and Alan were there with me, but it didn't seem to help to calm me down. The nurse got me a vicodin for the pain (an 8) and shot me up with some demorol to control the shaking and crying. She said it was probably from the versed. Don't look it up, it's kind of frightening. She said I was hyperventilating but I couldn't help it. Having been NPO since midnight, I asked for vanilla pudding (we have the good Hunts stuff at the hospital) but they didn't have any on that floor. And they just switched our Graham crackers from the yummy honey ones to nasty cardboard flavor. But I took what I could get. However, my mouth was so very dry, the crackers turned quickly into dusty paste that I physically could not swallow. Water helped some, but not completely. My voice was so hoarse. Nurse said it was from the dryness because of the oxygen. LIES.
This is what they put in me
http://www.anecare.com/Products/images/LMA-brief1.jpg
Only the slightest improvement over actual intubation...sheesh.
The hoarseness and soreness fortunately went away the next day...
In addition to the cartilage issue we knew about, they found three thumbnail size holes in my medial cartilage, which they were also able to fix!
I'm making good progress. We're on day five...
I can't add pictures to the blog from my iPad...
Should be able to see them here
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150282220344436.339800.530494435&l=096e224b2f&type=1
I've been doing PT every day, a little more each day. Needed two crutches the first day to get to the bathroom. Barely put any weight on it. Next day, two crutches with some weight. Third day, one crutch with weight on it. Fourth day, no crutches but a major limp. Fifth day, no crutches and can stand on that leg briefly! I'm amazed at how much it gets better each day. Second day I was worried about going back to work next Monday, but today, I think I could go back early!!
My first real PT appointment is Thursday, so we'll see then!!
Doc says I should be able to run 3 miles a day in 3-4 months! No more every day running for me though...
Been a while
Oops...
A LOT has changed since May...
I started my new job and have loved every crazy minute of it. No two days are ever the same. Splitting my time between inpatient rehab and acute care is challenging but it's going really well. I continue splitting time until January, then I'm full time acute care. I should find out in December whether or not I get to keep this job past June.
We found a house in the Ardmore neighborhood of Wisnton-Salem and I adore it. I finally have a fenced in yard for Riley!!!! And a real spare bedroom, and a windowseat. I'm in love and I really hope we get to stay here.
Mike found a job! We live across the street from my supervisor-turned-goodfriend and her husband happens to be a history teacher! He helped Mike get set up to volunteer with the high school's football teams. Once that really got going, the head coach talked with the principal and Mike was able to secure a part-time teaching position (Honors World History). Since he was technically a school emmployee at that point, he could also be paid to coach and the head coach offered him the JV head coach position! Go Demons! Yes, the Reynolds Demons. Slightly scary, but at least the colors aren't red and black. He's loving every minute of coaching and teaching.
So that's us, sorry for the lapse, hope to keep this up!
A LOT has changed since May...
I started my new job and have loved every crazy minute of it. No two days are ever the same. Splitting my time between inpatient rehab and acute care is challenging but it's going really well. I continue splitting time until January, then I'm full time acute care. I should find out in December whether or not I get to keep this job past June.
We found a house in the Ardmore neighborhood of Wisnton-Salem and I adore it. I finally have a fenced in yard for Riley!!!! And a real spare bedroom, and a windowseat. I'm in love and I really hope we get to stay here.
Mike found a job! We live across the street from my supervisor-turned-goodfriend and her husband happens to be a history teacher! He helped Mike get set up to volunteer with the high school's football teams. Once that really got going, the head coach talked with the principal and Mike was able to secure a part-time teaching position (Honors World History). Since he was technically a school emmployee at that point, he could also be paid to coach and the head coach offered him the JV head coach position! Go Demons! Yes, the Reynolds Demons. Slightly scary, but at least the colors aren't red and black. He's loving every minute of coaching and teaching.
So that's us, sorry for the lapse, hope to keep this up!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Babies (not mine)
A dear friend, just had a baby late last night. She and her husband already had three children with no plans to have more, but Beckett surprised them and they are wonderfully happy about it. And in turn, I'm ecstatic for them. I hope to get to visit soon, they live in Charlotte.
Two of my best friends are also pregnant. One is having some minor complications, but has great potential to turn out just fine. It is so amazing to me how this is putting an even deeper hold onto our solid three-way friendship. Sharing such an amazing part of their life with them is so special. I can't express how glad I am that I'm able to be geographically close to them during all this. And I thought the Baptist externship was just good for my career! Oh their bellies are really showing and even though they won't believe me, neither of them look fat. Truth. They haven't gained weight in their faces...just those precious bellies housing a precious Peanut and a sweet Bean. I love touching them, and I'm grateful they don't just let me touch, but that they encourage it and show me where to wait for a kick or nudge. This time last year, I think I was longing to get pregnant...but I truly think that was because it seemed like a way out of grad school. I'm still not ready just yet. I'm so happy for my friends, but I have no desire to be in their position. Mike and I still have some settling to do, but I think the yearn will start to come back soon...
Two of my best friends are also pregnant. One is having some minor complications, but has great potential to turn out just fine. It is so amazing to me how this is putting an even deeper hold onto our solid three-way friendship. Sharing such an amazing part of their life with them is so special. I can't express how glad I am that I'm able to be geographically close to them during all this. And I thought the Baptist externship was just good for my career! Oh their bellies are really showing and even though they won't believe me, neither of them look fat. Truth. They haven't gained weight in their faces...just those precious bellies housing a precious Peanut and a sweet Bean. I love touching them, and I'm grateful they don't just let me touch, but that they encourage it and show me where to wait for a kick or nudge. This time last year, I think I was longing to get pregnant...but I truly think that was because it seemed like a way out of grad school. I'm still not ready just yet. I'm so happy for my friends, but I have no desire to be in their position. Mike and I still have some settling to do, but I think the yearn will start to come back soon...
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