I am sure I have mentioned Will's fascination with clocks. He loves 'em and sees them everywhere. Sometimes, he is actually seeing a scale in the produce department or the blood pressure meter in a doctor's office, but those sure do look like clocks and he gets very excited.
Will's Nana has a cuckoo clock on her wall that she has had since the mid-1950's. Every time he goes to Nana's house, he points out the clock. Ten years ago, M's mom moved in with Nana when her health started to deteriorate. At the time, the clock was moved to make some room for her things and the weights that make it work were taken off the clock and put someplace. The clock has been silent ever since. It has actually be a source of contention between the two of them.
With Will's clock fascination, we decided the perfect Christmas gift for Nana would be to replace the clock weights. I did some research and found that the weights would only be around $15 a piece and we only needed two. Nana was thrilled with her weights when she opened them for Christmas, declaring that we couldn't have done better, and she couldn't want to get the clock working so Will could enjoy it with her.
So, M took the weights in the other room to fix the cuckoo clock. I forgot to mention that I had to ask M's mom to take the clock off the wall to read some information on the back to figure out what kind of weights the clock would take, and that becomes important when M goes to put the weights on the clock and. . .
The entire clock fell of the wall, smashing into ten different pieces and pulling the chains and weights right out of the clock! M and I just stood there in horrified amazement. My "great idea" of a Christmas gift had just become nightmare.
See, replacing the clock would be about $200. . . but that would be a new clock, not this cuckoo clock that Nana has emotional attachments to. We didn't confess that it had been broken, just told her that it "wasn't working right" and that we needed to take it to the clock shop for a "tune up." We carefully collected all of the pieces and took it to the shop.
We were given an estimate of $180 to repair the clock, which considering the state it was in, probably was more than fair. But to be honest, that was a lot of money to us right now, especially on top of all that we just spent at Christmas. It's our fault the clock is broken, and we had to make it right, so I begged and pleaded to see if there was any way to fix it for less.
The guy took pity on our plight and put the chains back in, oiled the clock, reset the time, and even glued the pieces that were broken back together. Fortunately, the damage was cosmetic and the clock still works, despite it's fall from the wall. It might not keep the best of time, but it should work. And the guy did it for free.
We are heading up today to put the clock back on Nana's wall and hope it works there, too. Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Edited: The cuckoo worked great! Every half hour, we'd get the little cuckoo, and on the hour, we'd get the string of cuckoos cheerfully announcing the time. Will would stop what he was doing to pay attention each time. Nana was thrilled. Finally, our gift was complete.
Oh, and if you live in the Seattle area and need clock repair or to buy a new clock, A House of Clocks is the place to go! Ask for Don.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday Night Leftovers
It's that time again, time to put all the random thoughts in my head in bullet point form. . . head over to Danifred's to join in the fun!
1. I am obsessed with stroller shopping and looking on Craigslist. I just know the perfect stroller is out there for us, at a reduced price!
2. I am hiring a mother's helper. It is harder than I expected. I have had an interview no-show, two interviews with people that I will not be hiring, and one candidate that was promising, but then got another job offer.
3. I am debating whether or not to just quit my parttime job and nix the mother's helper idea. I don't think I am going to be able to keep working once the baby is here, and I won't have worked for them for a year, so I don't think they will want to give me a few months off to acclimate (and I don't blame them).
4. Oh, and I still haven't told my boss that I am pregnant. I work 100% from home, so I probably wouldn't ever have to tell him. But I probably should. Sometime soon.
5. Have I even mentioned my part time job here on the blog before? I am not sure. It's a great job, I really lucked into something great. I get paid well, it is not difficult work, and my boss is great to work for. So I really don't want to throw the opportunity away. But I also know when I am in over my head and newborn + Will + work from home job + no maternity leave = in over my head.
6. Will's belly is super cute. I love changing his diaper just to get a look at that adorable little belly. I just might be unable to avoid kissing it. He likes kissing my belly, too.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Beat Goes On
We had a routine OB appointment today. It was our first time hearing the heartbeat. . .
156 BPM.
Such a miraculous sound. I could listen to it all day. The little one didn't even make us wait, the beat came up right away.
We brought Will with us to the appointment and he was antsy, except when we listened to the beat. Then he was perfectly still, with his little head cocked to the side. It was pretty cute.
Everything else looks good. I lost a lot of weight in the first trimester, but that has stopped (I even gained a pound, yay!), Dr. S commented that weight and BP looked "perfect." I didn't really have any questions as things have been feeling pretty familiar and normal, so it was a quickie appointment. Routine, normal, quick, easy appointment. Just as I like 'em.
156 BPM.
Such a miraculous sound. I could listen to it all day. The little one didn't even make us wait, the beat came up right away.
We brought Will with us to the appointment and he was antsy, except when we listened to the beat. Then he was perfectly still, with his little head cocked to the side. It was pretty cute.
Everything else looks good. I lost a lot of weight in the first trimester, but that has stopped (I even gained a pound, yay!), Dr. S commented that weight and BP looked "perfect." I didn't really have any questions as things have been feeling pretty familiar and normal, so it was a quickie appointment. Routine, normal, quick, easy appointment. Just as I like 'em.
Things Will Loves
He loves to sing.
He loves to dance.
He loves "choo choos" and airplanes.
He loves grilled cheese, blueberries, strawberries, rice ("wice!"), pancakes, cheesy scrambled eggs, cinnamon toast ("totes"), Cheerios ("o's"), animal crackers (and he gets them himself out of the pantry), dried mangoes, and "hot coco" - which is warmed milk with a small amount of chocolate instant breakfast in it.
He loves using a fork.
He loves wearing Daddy's clothes.
He loves giving the puppies a kiss and hug.
He loves saying "Awwwww" when he does it.
He loves to play with M when he gets home from work.
He loves wearing his boots.
He loves going to the park to play.
He loves Elmo.
He loves brushing his teeth.
He loves combing his hair.
He loves it when we take a tubby together.
He loves picking stories at bedtime.
He loves his stuffed Lightening McQueen.
It's honestly hard to think of anything that he doesn't like.
I love him.
He loves to dance.
He loves "choo choos" and airplanes.
He loves grilled cheese, blueberries, strawberries, rice ("wice!"), pancakes, cheesy scrambled eggs, cinnamon toast ("totes"), Cheerios ("o's"), animal crackers (and he gets them himself out of the pantry), dried mangoes, and "hot coco" - which is warmed milk with a small amount of chocolate instant breakfast in it.
He loves using a fork.
He loves wearing Daddy's clothes.
He loves giving the puppies a kiss and hug.
He loves saying "Awwwww" when he does it.
He loves to play with M when he gets home from work.
He loves wearing his boots.
He loves going to the park to play.
He loves Elmo.
He loves brushing his teeth.
He loves combing his hair.
He loves it when we take a tubby together.
He loves picking stories at bedtime.
He loves his stuffed Lightening McQueen.
It's honestly hard to think of anything that he doesn't like.
I love him.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Mediterranean Chicken
Time for another recipe! I love making this chicken because it is easy, flavorful, and healthy. I can literally toss this together in minutes. It is also versatile, because you can add things you like and take out things you don't. You can serve it with a variety of things, including tossing it with some pasta or just serve it with a side of veggies. I also like to use the leftovers (if there are any!) on salads the next day. My husband does not like chicken usually, but because you halve the chicken breasts, they stay moist and flavorful.
Mediterranean Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved
2 tbs. olive oil
Black pepper, to taste
2 chopped roma tomatoes
1/2 c. diced red onion
1/2 c. halved, pitted kalamata olives
1/2 c. prepared pesto sauce (if I don't have any homemade, I use Mezetta Napa Valley brand)
1 c. crumbled feta cheese
Heat the 2 tbs. olive oil over medium heat in a large frying pan.
Saute the diced red onion for three to five minutes.
Take the halved chicken breasts and spread the pesto evenly on one side of each piece.
Place chicken, pesto-side down, in the frying pan.
Spreada the remaining pesto on the other side of the chicken.
Sprinkle black pepper over that side (I am sparing with the pepper, since I feel as if the pesto has plenty of flavor).
Saute chicken until brown on first side (about 5 - 7 minutes) and then flip.
Add kalamata olives and tomatoes.
When chicken is done (about another 4 - 5 minutes), remove from heat and sprinkle with feta cheese.
(If I am serving it mixed with pasta, I will cook the pasta while I cook the chicken and reserve 1/3 c. of the hot pasta water. I then slice the chicken and pour the whole thing into the pasta pot and re-add the starchy water - if you salt your pasta water, then this adds great flavor and more "sauce," though it is still a drier pasta in terms of the amount of sauce. I also wait to add the feta until after I have mixed it with the pasta. I have used angel hair and penne and both are good.)
Things that I have added to this:
Fresh spinach (yummy - just add it in when you add the olives and tomatoes)
Red and green pepper (saute with onions)
Cucumber (added at the very end with the feta and then served with tzatziki and pita bread instead of pasta)
I have also made it with prawns and that was pretty amazing, too!
Things that I often take out:
The onion as M doesn't like it. I just add more olives and tomatoes.
I also have used other types of tomatoes and onions, it doesn't seem to alter the taste much.
Once, I left out the olives (I didn't realize I didn't have any) and I was surprised by how much of a difference they made. I wouldn't recommend leaving those out unless you don't like them.
Enjoy!
Mediterranean Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved
2 tbs. olive oil
Black pepper, to taste
2 chopped roma tomatoes
1/2 c. diced red onion
1/2 c. halved, pitted kalamata olives
1/2 c. prepared pesto sauce (if I don't have any homemade, I use Mezetta Napa Valley brand)
1 c. crumbled feta cheese
Heat the 2 tbs. olive oil over medium heat in a large frying pan.
Saute the diced red onion for three to five minutes.
Take the halved chicken breasts and spread the pesto evenly on one side of each piece.
Place chicken, pesto-side down, in the frying pan.
Spreada the remaining pesto on the other side of the chicken.
Sprinkle black pepper over that side (I am sparing with the pepper, since I feel as if the pesto has plenty of flavor).
Saute chicken until brown on first side (about 5 - 7 minutes) and then flip.
Add kalamata olives and tomatoes.
When chicken is done (about another 4 - 5 minutes), remove from heat and sprinkle with feta cheese.
(If I am serving it mixed with pasta, I will cook the pasta while I cook the chicken and reserve 1/3 c. of the hot pasta water. I then slice the chicken and pour the whole thing into the pasta pot and re-add the starchy water - if you salt your pasta water, then this adds great flavor and more "sauce," though it is still a drier pasta in terms of the amount of sauce. I also wait to add the feta until after I have mixed it with the pasta. I have used angel hair and penne and both are good.)
Things that I have added to this:
Fresh spinach (yummy - just add it in when you add the olives and tomatoes)
Red and green pepper (saute with onions)
Cucumber (added at the very end with the feta and then served with tzatziki and pita bread instead of pasta)
I have also made it with prawns and that was pretty amazing, too!
Things that I often take out:
The onion as M doesn't like it. I just add more olives and tomatoes.
I also have used other types of tomatoes and onions, it doesn't seem to alter the taste much.
Once, I left out the olives (I didn't realize I didn't have any) and I was surprised by how much of a difference they made. I wouldn't recommend leaving those out unless you don't like them.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
It's the Things That Make You Go MMMM
MMMM stands for Most Mortifying Mom Moment. I have had a few in my relatively short time as a mom, but my most recent experience with a MMMM came just a few days ago.
I took Will to Costco to do some shopping. I still have some waves of nausea in the afternoon, so I really have to force myelf to get out and about. I do it because it is sometimes easier to entertain Will away from the house when I am not feeling well, and Costco, with its lights, people, and samples, is a surefire way to get at least at hour's worth of entertaintment for him. I was wearing yucky old sweats and a zip up jacket with just my bra on underneath. I put on jeans, but decided not to bother putting a shirt on under the jacket, as it is cold out and I wouldn't need to take it off.
We got to Costco, I got Will situated in the cart, and as we were heading into the store, he started fiddling with the zipper on my jacket. He likes zippers, buttons, necklaces, etc., and plays with them a lot. He especially likes to zip things and unzip things. To be honest, I wasn't really paying that much attention at the moment, as I was putting my Costco card back in my wallet and getting out my grocery list.
We walked around Costco for about 45 minutes that day, chatting with the Sample People, meandering the aisles, smiling at passerby. When I got up to the register, I pulled my cart up behind an elderly lady and when she turned around her eyes widened.
"Dear," she said softly, "Do you know that your blouse is open?"
I looked down and saw that Will had unzipped my jacket nearly to my navel. And my white bra was clearly visible, along with a hefty amount of pregnant breast. I immediately zipped myself up to my chin and looked around, hoping no one saw.
But of course people saw. Will had fiddled with my jacket when we first arrived at Costco, my friends. No wonder we got extra samples from the pizza guy!
Care to share your MMMM? Or, any embarrassing moments? I've got loads of 'em from my pre-mom days. . . we could just called it Most Memorable MessedUp Moments!
I took Will to Costco to do some shopping. I still have some waves of nausea in the afternoon, so I really have to force myelf to get out and about. I do it because it is sometimes easier to entertain Will away from the house when I am not feeling well, and Costco, with its lights, people, and samples, is a surefire way to get at least at hour's worth of entertaintment for him. I was wearing yucky old sweats and a zip up jacket with just my bra on underneath. I put on jeans, but decided not to bother putting a shirt on under the jacket, as it is cold out and I wouldn't need to take it off.
We got to Costco, I got Will situated in the cart, and as we were heading into the store, he started fiddling with the zipper on my jacket. He likes zippers, buttons, necklaces, etc., and plays with them a lot. He especially likes to zip things and unzip things. To be honest, I wasn't really paying that much attention at the moment, as I was putting my Costco card back in my wallet and getting out my grocery list.
We walked around Costco for about 45 minutes that day, chatting with the Sample People, meandering the aisles, smiling at passerby. When I got up to the register, I pulled my cart up behind an elderly lady and when she turned around her eyes widened.
"Dear," she said softly, "Do you know that your blouse is open?"
I looked down and saw that Will had unzipped my jacket nearly to my navel. And my white bra was clearly visible, along with a hefty amount of pregnant breast. I immediately zipped myself up to my chin and looked around, hoping no one saw.
But of course people saw. Will had fiddled with my jacket when we first arrived at Costco, my friends. No wonder we got extra samples from the pizza guy!
Care to share your MMMM? Or, any embarrassing moments? I've got loads of 'em from my pre-mom days. . . we could just called it Most Memorable MessedUp Moments!
Monday, January 25, 2010
No Matter How You Slice It
Some folks call the 12th week the beginning on the second trimester.
Some people prefer to wait until the 13th week before calling it that.
There are some really conservative ones that wait until the 14th week to say that you're in the second trimester.
No matter what camp you're in or how you count off the days . . .
Second trimester, here I am!!
I am so glad to be here, for the obvious biggest reason of all being that we are now safely past the highest risk of miscarriage. I am also glad to be here, because I am feeling human again. I am so glad to be able to eat and to parent my son. There were some dark days back there where I wasn't sure we were going to make it.
But here we are and until I get huge, awkward, and swollen, I plan to live it up! Yay for the second trimester!
Some people prefer to wait until the 13th week before calling it that.
There are some really conservative ones that wait until the 14th week to say that you're in the second trimester.
No matter what camp you're in or how you count off the days . . .
Second trimester, here I am!!
I am so glad to be here, for the obvious biggest reason of all being that we are now safely past the highest risk of miscarriage. I am also glad to be here, because I am feeling human again. I am so glad to be able to eat and to parent my son. There were some dark days back there where I wasn't sure we were going to make it.
But here we are and until I get huge, awkward, and swollen, I plan to live it up! Yay for the second trimester!
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