Tropical Tree Frog Costume Giveaway
Monday, November 03, 2008
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
fourth
My mom tagged me to play the "fourth folder fourth picture" game that's been running around the blogs I read lately, and here's the result.
On March 5, 2006, I was sitting next to the Provo river on a quiet, warm, sunny Sunday afternoon. Sam knelt down next to me and asked me to marry him. I said yes. Much smiling, giggling, ring-gazing, and kissing ensued. Eventually we came back to my apartment and my roommate Emily took this picture. Later that evening, Sam said, "I had no idea how excited and happy you would be"-- not that he was hoping for any vastly different reaction.
Over two and a half years later, we're as happy as clams. A couple days ago, Sam and I, with Anna in the stroller, were walking and talking. It was so nice-- me and my little family. "I'm glad we have a good marriage," I told Sam. We do, and I am. On any given day, Sam comes home from work, and much smiling, giggling, Anna-gazing, and kissing ensues. It's the good life.
PS: I tag Amy, Alisa, Laska, and Allison. Open your My Pictures folder, find the fourth folder, and post the fourth picture. (Or if your pictures are hyper-organized, like mine, post the fourth picture in the fourth folder in the fourth folder, etc.)
PPS: I was going tag you, Anna, but figured since the baby's coming on Friday you probably had better things to be doing...
On March 5, 2006, I was sitting next to the Provo river on a quiet, warm, sunny Sunday afternoon. Sam knelt down next to me and asked me to marry him. I said yes. Much smiling, giggling, ring-gazing, and kissing ensued. Eventually we came back to my apartment and my roommate Emily took this picture. Later that evening, Sam said, "I had no idea how excited and happy you would be"-- not that he was hoping for any vastly different reaction.Over two and a half years later, we're as happy as clams. A couple days ago, Sam and I, with Anna in the stroller, were walking and talking. It was so nice-- me and my little family. "I'm glad we have a good marriage," I told Sam. We do, and I am. On any given day, Sam comes home from work, and much smiling, giggling, Anna-gazing, and kissing ensues. It's the good life.
PS: I tag Amy, Alisa, Laska, and Allison. Open your My Pictures folder, find the fourth folder, and post the fourth picture. (Or if your pictures are hyper-organized, like mine, post the fourth picture in the fourth folder in the fourth folder, etc.)
PPS: I was going tag you, Anna, but figured since the baby's coming on Friday you probably had better things to be doing...
Monday, October 20, 2008
general wisdom
I've spent a lot of time trying to decide who I would vote for in the upcoming Presidential election. I've talked to Republican and Democrat friends about why their candidates would be the best choice. I've talked to friends whose judgment I admire and who I know are informed and thoughtful. I've visited the candidates' websites and read their positions on issues that I'm concerned about. I've watched debates and read the news. I've also had several discussions with Sam about why we choose the people we vote for. On what points do I need to agree with the candidate I choose? Is it OK to vote for the candidate we respect more, even if we disagree on some fundamental points? Are those points really fundamental, or are they just the arbitrary opposite stances the parties have come to hold? How important are the tone of the candidates' campaigns and the choice of running mate?
I'm still not sure I know the right answer to those questions, or even if there is a right answer. However, when I saw this video of Colin Powell explaining why he endorsed Barack Obama, his reasons rang true with me, and are a much better summary of why I'm going to vote for Obama than I think I could give. And so, I second your endorsement General Powell.
And I also second this endorsement from my niece Isabelle, daughter of Ben and Amy, who will mostly likely not be voting for Obama.
I'm still not sure I know the right answer to those questions, or even if there is a right answer. However, when I saw this video of Colin Powell explaining why he endorsed Barack Obama, his reasons rang true with me, and are a much better summary of why I'm going to vote for Obama than I think I could give. And so, I second your endorsement General Powell.
And I also second this endorsement from my niece Isabelle, daughter of Ben and Amy, who will mostly likely not be voting for Obama.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
anna banana
I just read a post on my sister's blog about her adorable daughter and all the cute things she's doing lately and I thought, "I need to do that!" So here's a typical day, Anna style. Beware, this will be long. This post is more for me and Anna than for you.
Anna is a superb sleeper. Most nights we put her to bed around 9 PM and she falls happily asleep (more on bedtime routine later...). About 6 weeks ago we started swaddling her with one arm bent up to her mouth so she could suck her thumb, and have progressively swaddled her less and less to the point that both arms are now out and she sleeps with them straight out to both sides like she's making up for the fourth months where they were strapped tight to her body.
Anytime between 4:30 and 6:30, Anna starts to stir and cry a bit. At that point I go in and flip her over on to her tummy (how she naps- don't tell my pediatrician) so she can suck her thumb and fall back asleep. Anna used to rub her free hand over her sheets, and sometimes I'd stick a corner of her soft blanket under it and she'd grab on to it. But just this week, she's really gotten into rubbing something soft with the hand she's not sucking. When she's nursing, she rubs her soft hair, and when she's going to sleep, she reaches for her little teddy bear or lamb. It is SO adorable to see her, eyes shut tight, sucking one thumb, and stroking a little foot of a happily smiling toy who is slowly becoming real.
Anna wakes up completely some time between 7:30 and 9:30 AM which means that I often get leisurely mornings to study the scriptures, read my email, eat breakfast, and read/post blogs. I love this time since it's quiet, the sun rises, I can think and relax and prepare for the day. I really do treasure it since I know these days are numbered :)
When Anna is really awake, she pops up, supporting herself on her elbows and alternates between talking to the toys in her crib and yelling for Mom. She rocks up onto her side a bit to look at the window and almost rolls over (more on rolling over later...). When I come in, I'm greeted with a huge smile, giggles, and, once I help her roll onto her back, kicks and waving arms of joy. Anna sure knows how to wrangle you in from the start.
After a round of good morning hugs and kisses, I feed her and change her. Anna figured out how to grab her toes a few weeks ago and it has become one of her favorite games. There is little else that pleases Anna as much as being naked and kicking her legs onto the noisy changing table and then swinging them up to catch her feet again.
Much of the rest of the day is spent in playtime. Anna's favorite things to do with Mommy are sing songs, be tickled, and play kicking games. Anna LOVES "The Wheels on the Bus" since it involves singing AND body-moving actions. When I start the song, Anna's mouth gets wide with glee and just stays open the whole time because she is SO excited to be going "up and down, up and down, UP and down." I'll admit though that while Anna loves to rock on her bum while I hold her hands during the "move on back" verse, I can't help but imagine Rosa Parks is rolling over in her grave every time I sing it.
I try to have some tummy time each day, mostly in the hopes that Anna will figure out how to roll over since her neck is already really strong. I think the main problem with Anna's rolling ability is that while on her tummy, she refuses to put weight on her arms. Instead of propping herself up on her elbows like the babies in the pictures of all my parenting books, Anna prefers to have her arms out wide, airplane style. Not only does this mean she can't push up on her arms to help her roll over, it also means all the strain of holding her head up falls to her neck and back so she gets tired and angry pretty quickly while on her tummy.
Airplane style tummy time
Getting mad and tired
Totally devolved
However, I know every baby figures things out on her own schedule, and Anna has lots of other skills. She's SO close to sitting up on her own. She can sit unassisted for a few seconds on the floor, but if she's sitting between your knees, she does really well. Her biggest obstacle is that she kicks when she gets excited and that pushes her over backward. It's really cute when she does it though :)
Sitting skills
Anna is also very good about putting weight on her feet. She likes to stand with help, and she'll lean against the couch while standing for about 15 seconds. She really loves to stand on the bathroom counter in front of the big mirror. There she can smile and laugh and talk to her cute little friend in the mirror and feel the cool granite under her feet. She also likes to pull and chew on the lucky bamboo on the counter and likes to hold the bright red and blue toothpaste tube. I know when Anna's fussy that a trip to the bathroom counter will quiet her for a long time.
Though, being quiet is not Anna's usual choice. Anna is a screamer. Even-- especially-- when she's happy Anna likes to test the limits of her vocal abilities. I had at least three or four friends turn around laughing during Sunday School when Anna screamed with delight as I helped her stand on my lap. At the grocery store however, the looks are less congenial and more often express the "what is that woman doing to her child?!" sentiment. When normal talking is not enough, Anna screams.
Anna also screams when she's not happy, which means I'm a total pushover when she wants to be picked up and cuddled after having enough time on the floor. I just can't handle growling screams of displeasure. On a particularly screamy day last week, it drove me to tears, and thankfully Sam was home to take her outside until she screamed herself to sleep so I couldn't hear it. The good news is, those days are few and far between. Anna has become a very happy baby and is usually content with playing with Mom or chatting with her toys.
Anna's current favorite toys are the little bugs and animals that hang from the arches over her play mats. She loves to hit them and make them jingle and talk to them and put them in her mouth. She also loves bubbles and wriggles with pleasure when she sees them floating by.
Anna smiles more every day. Our favorite is the "bubble smile" as Sam likes to call it since her big round cheeks look like bubbles. We also melt for her big open mouthed smiles of joy. And my special smile is the soft little grin on Anna's face when she's all ready for bed and I've nursed her one last time and we're cuddling. She makes quiet oohs and aahs recounting all the fun she had during the day and how happy she is and how much she loves me (or at least that's how I interpret those adorable sounds).
Bubble smile
Big cute happy smile with dimple
And now that I've brought up bedtime again, I suppose I'll finish this post with talking about our routine. Around 8 PM, Anna lets us know she's had enough playing and is ready to go to bed. One of us gets the bath ready while the other takes off her clothes and diaper. At this point Sam likes to help Anna stand up since he thinks it's so funny to see such a round, roly body standing like a little person. Once we're done admiring Anna's rolls, we put in the bath. Daddy bathes Anna M-W-F and I take the other days. Anna gets really excited about her wet washcloth and loves to see it drip, spin, splash, or float until she gets her hands on it and then it gets shoved in her mouth where she sucks the water out. Gross, yes, but she loves it.
Daddy doing bath tummy time
After the bath we snuggle her up in her little hooded towel and massage her with baby lotion. She loves getting her feet rubbed (who doesn't?) and hates having to get dressed in jammies again. She hates getting wrapped up in her blanket, but loves bedtime nursing. And so do I. She's super snuggly and smells like lavender and loves to rub her hand on my cheek. And that brings us to the cooing, and good night kisses, and happily drifting off to sleep.
I imagine these will be some of the easiest parenting days of our lives, and we're loving it.
Anna is a superb sleeper. Most nights we put her to bed around 9 PM and she falls happily asleep (more on bedtime routine later...). About 6 weeks ago we started swaddling her with one arm bent up to her mouth so she could suck her thumb, and have progressively swaddled her less and less to the point that both arms are now out and she sleeps with them straight out to both sides like she's making up for the fourth months where they were strapped tight to her body.
Anytime between 4:30 and 6:30, Anna starts to stir and cry a bit. At that point I go in and flip her over on to her tummy (how she naps- don't tell my pediatrician) so she can suck her thumb and fall back asleep. Anna used to rub her free hand over her sheets, and sometimes I'd stick a corner of her soft blanket under it and she'd grab on to it. But just this week, she's really gotten into rubbing something soft with the hand she's not sucking. When she's nursing, she rubs her soft hair, and when she's going to sleep, she reaches for her little teddy bear or lamb. It is SO adorable to see her, eyes shut tight, sucking one thumb, and stroking a little foot of a happily smiling toy who is slowly becoming real.
Anna wakes up completely some time between 7:30 and 9:30 AM which means that I often get leisurely mornings to study the scriptures, read my email, eat breakfast, and read/post blogs. I love this time since it's quiet, the sun rises, I can think and relax and prepare for the day. I really do treasure it since I know these days are numbered :)
When Anna is really awake, she pops up, supporting herself on her elbows and alternates between talking to the toys in her crib and yelling for Mom. She rocks up onto her side a bit to look at the window and almost rolls over (more on rolling over later...). When I come in, I'm greeted with a huge smile, giggles, and, once I help her roll onto her back, kicks and waving arms of joy. Anna sure knows how to wrangle you in from the start.
After a round of good morning hugs and kisses, I feed her and change her. Anna figured out how to grab her toes a few weeks ago and it has become one of her favorite games. There is little else that pleases Anna as much as being naked and kicking her legs onto the noisy changing table and then swinging them up to catch her feet again.
Much of the rest of the day is spent in playtime. Anna's favorite things to do with Mommy are sing songs, be tickled, and play kicking games. Anna LOVES "The Wheels on the Bus" since it involves singing AND body-moving actions. When I start the song, Anna's mouth gets wide with glee and just stays open the whole time because she is SO excited to be going "up and down, up and down, UP and down." I'll admit though that while Anna loves to rock on her bum while I hold her hands during the "move on back" verse, I can't help but imagine Rosa Parks is rolling over in her grave every time I sing it.
I try to have some tummy time each day, mostly in the hopes that Anna will figure out how to roll over since her neck is already really strong. I think the main problem with Anna's rolling ability is that while on her tummy, she refuses to put weight on her arms. Instead of propping herself up on her elbows like the babies in the pictures of all my parenting books, Anna prefers to have her arms out wide, airplane style. Not only does this mean she can't push up on her arms to help her roll over, it also means all the strain of holding her head up falls to her neck and back so she gets tired and angry pretty quickly while on her tummy.
Airplane style tummy time
Getting mad and tired
Totally devolved
Sitting skills
Though, being quiet is not Anna's usual choice. Anna is a screamer. Even-- especially-- when she's happy Anna likes to test the limits of her vocal abilities. I had at least three or four friends turn around laughing during Sunday School when Anna screamed with delight as I helped her stand on my lap. At the grocery store however, the looks are less congenial and more often express the "what is that woman doing to her child?!" sentiment. When normal talking is not enough, Anna screams.
Anna also screams when she's not happy, which means I'm a total pushover when she wants to be picked up and cuddled after having enough time on the floor. I just can't handle growling screams of displeasure. On a particularly screamy day last week, it drove me to tears, and thankfully Sam was home to take her outside until she screamed herself to sleep so I couldn't hear it. The good news is, those days are few and far between. Anna has become a very happy baby and is usually content with playing with Mom or chatting with her toys.
Anna's current favorite toys are the little bugs and animals that hang from the arches over her play mats. She loves to hit them and make them jingle and talk to them and put them in her mouth. She also loves bubbles and wriggles with pleasure when she sees them floating by.
Anna smiles more every day. Our favorite is the "bubble smile" as Sam likes to call it since her big round cheeks look like bubbles. We also melt for her big open mouthed smiles of joy. And my special smile is the soft little grin on Anna's face when she's all ready for bed and I've nursed her one last time and we're cuddling. She makes quiet oohs and aahs recounting all the fun she had during the day and how happy she is and how much she loves me (or at least that's how I interpret those adorable sounds).
Bubble smile
Big cute happy smile with dimple
Daddy doing bath tummy timeI imagine these will be some of the easiest parenting days of our lives, and we're loving it.
Monday, October 13, 2008
not without my handbag
Has anyone else seen that little short by the guys who make Wallace & Grommit? Long story short, a lady dies, but refuses to go to hell without her handbag. My favorite line: "My auntie is a zombie from hell."
I'm not really a purse carrier, but I'll jump on the bandwagon if I can win a designer handbag for free from Handbag Planet. Win one for yourself here. Just don't pick this one:
I'm not really a purse carrier, but I'll jump on the bandwagon if I can win a designer handbag for free from Handbag Planet. Win one for yourself here. Just don't pick this one:
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
won't you be my neighbor
today
Today, one of the many sisters who live two floors up called Anna a boy. Anna was wearing a white outfit with ruffles and flowers and a purple headband.
some days
The one rotund son of the family two floors up calls to his mother... (who is inside her apartment... with the door shut... two floors up...) while standing right outside Anna's window... while she's napping... some days.
most days
The woman upstairs vacuums her whole apartment. At 9:47 PM. most days.
every day
Every day, the one rotund little boy who lives two floors up tries to throw his soccer ball up to his apartment... two floors up.
Every day.
Every day, the ball lands in our patio, often after crashing into the door.
Every day.
Every day, the rotund little boy is shocked! With wide eyes, he stands there. With his hands over his open mouth, he doesn't know what to do.
Every day.
Every day, we go outside and throw the ball back to him. "Sorry!" he squeaks. Then he runs away.
Every day. Every day.
Won't you be... please, won't you be... please, won't you be my neighbor?
Today, one of the many sisters who live two floors up called Anna a boy. Anna was wearing a white outfit with ruffles and flowers and a purple headband.
some days
The one rotund son of the family two floors up calls to his mother... (who is inside her apartment... with the door shut... two floors up...) while standing right outside Anna's window... while she's napping... some days.
most days
The woman upstairs vacuums her whole apartment. At 9:47 PM. most days.
every day
Every day, the one rotund little boy who lives two floors up tries to throw his soccer ball up to his apartment... two floors up.
Every day.
Every day, the ball lands in our patio, often after crashing into the door.
Every day.
Every day, the rotund little boy is shocked! With wide eyes, he stands there. With his hands over his open mouth, he doesn't know what to do.
Every day.
Every day, we go outside and throw the ball back to him. "Sorry!" he squeaks. Then he runs away.
Every day. Every day.
Won't you be... please, won't you be... please, won't you be my neighbor?
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
food fight
I think a great arcade game would be to have little avocados pop up out of holes and you mash them with a mallet. It would be called "Guac-a-mole." And instead of tickets dispensing with every hit, it would dispense tortilla chips.
lil' peanut
Anna was chosen to be the lil' peanut of the week over the the lil' peanut patch! Go check out her cuteness and enter some of their giveaways while you're at it! Thanks lil' peanut patch!
Saturday, October 04, 2008
winning
I'm sorry I've kept you waiting. It was rude.
On Wednesday, Sam came home from work to find several slips of paper folded in a cup. I told him to pull one out after mixing them up a bit with his finger. "It says 'Kirsten,'" he told me, confused.
So congratulations Kirsten Jarvis Cook! You won a free t-let! I sent you a message on facebook, so you can just reply to that with your address and I'll send it off to you.
Thank you to everyone who participated. This was really fun for me (though I hate thinking of all my friends losing) and makes me want to do it again. So I will-- sometime. In the meantime, Kirsten, I hope you enjoy your magical, simply smart and sensible, keen, sensational, satisfying, sexy-without-skin, smooth, marvelous, magnificent, modern, pretty plausible in a pre-spring wardrobe, awesome, absolutely awe-inspiring (making you an amazing all-star), adorable, killer, kick-butt t-let!
And you're right. They are great for breastfeeding.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to let you all know that I won a little blog candy of my own recently! I won this super-cute, reversible apron from Bitsy Bear on the very fun blog Mums the Wurd. They feature new products for parents and children and have lots of giveaways. Check them out!
PS-- Though the swaddle wraps on Bitsy Bear may not be as convenient as the velcro kind, they get HUGE style points in my book. Who wouldn't want to wrap their baby up in this?
On Wednesday, Sam came home from work to find several slips of paper folded in a cup. I told him to pull one out after mixing them up a bit with his finger. "It says 'Kirsten,'" he told me, confused.
So congratulations Kirsten Jarvis Cook! You won a free t-let! I sent you a message on facebook, so you can just reply to that with your address and I'll send it off to you.
Thank you to everyone who participated. This was really fun for me (though I hate thinking of all my friends losing) and makes me want to do it again. So I will-- sometime. In the meantime, Kirsten, I hope you enjoy your magical, simply smart and sensible, keen, sensational, satisfying, sexy-without-skin, smooth, marvelous, magnificent, modern, pretty plausible in a pre-spring wardrobe, awesome, absolutely awe-inspiring (making you an amazing all-star), adorable, killer, kick-butt t-let!
And you're right. They are great for breastfeeding.
.............
I'd also like to take this opportunity to let you all know that I won a little blog candy of my own recently! I won this super-cute, reversible apron from Bitsy Bear on the very fun blog Mums the Wurd. They feature new products for parents and children and have lots of giveaways. Check them out!
PS-- Though the swaddle wraps on Bitsy Bear may not be as convenient as the velcro kind, they get HUGE style points in my book. Who wouldn't want to wrap their baby up in this?
Monday, September 29, 2008
flowers and a lightning storm: a month in review
"It's the end of the summer When you send your children to the moon"
I love that Dar Williams song. It felt more immediate when I was in school, but it is the end of the summer and I always get excited when fall rolls around. I still feel like things should begin in the fall. As Dar says, "It's just that time of year When we push ourselves ahead." Between the fresh-start feeling of fall and Elder Uchtdorf's inspiring talk at the General Relief Society meeting, I'm feeling antsy to start something. I'm not sure exactly what, but something. In the mean time, while I decide what that something is, I decided to chronicle what's already been done.
September has been a crazy month. Not really very eventful, but full. On Labor Day, Sam and I had planned to go to the zoo, but apparently, they were so busy last year, that they changed all their free days to obscure holidays like Columbus Day. Anna was crazy that day and refused to calm down, so we used our one trick and took her swimming.
It worked.
For dinner we all got dressed in our college football team gear and went to Chick-fil-A where we each (including Anna since she was dressed up too) got 3 free chicken strips. We added a fry and lemonade to share and had a great dinner for less than $4. Katrina came by afterward and watched Anna while Sam and I went to see Indiana Jones at the dollar theater. We really enjoyed the time away together and Anna was just starting to freak out when we came home.
Three days later was Anna's 4 month check-up. She was 16.5 lbs (95th percentile), 25.5 in (87th percentile), and I don't remember her head measurement, but it was 22nd percentile. Strange, huh? She also got more immunizations. The nurses at my pediatrician are great, and Anna gets all four shots and her bandaids on in about 27 seconds. It's not funny in the moment when my heart is breaking for my little girl, but looking back, I can laugh at how during all the shots she has that silent, horrified open mouth that you know is going to erupt in a huge scream at any moment, but it's not until the last bandaid is on and the nurse lets me pick her up that the scream finally comes. Despite its awfulness, it still amazes me.
Anyway, Anna reacted to this round of shots just like the last one-- she slept and cuddled a lot. I can't complain too much about that. However, on the same day, I was feeling awful and got squeezed in at the doctor. So, about an hour after Anna's appointment, I had to wake her up from her deep sleep, drag her to the doctor's office, hold her with one hand while filling out paperwork with the other because she needed to be cuddled and comforted, and then feed her in the magazine section of the grocery store while I waited for my prescription to be filled. We finally came home and took long naps. Needless to say, it was not the best day for the Cosby women.
The next day, we went up to the temple in Klein. I did a session there while Sam watched Anna. Then we watched our niece, Isabelle, while Ben and Amy went to the temple with Amy's sister. And the next day, we went up again, so Sam could go to the temple, and I went to Amy's sister's bridal shower. After three days of being away from home, getting shots, and having erratic nap schedules and locations, Anna was exhausted, and so were we.
Even so, everyone loved seeing Anna, and she willingly smiled and gurgled and got passed around. And when the time came that Anna could finally get all the sleep she wanted, she happily succombed rather that putting up a fight. At some point in there, we fed Anna her first "solids" if you can classify soupy rice cereal as that. We stripped her down and went for it. She didn't know what to do at first, but has since had some great success with a spoon. Her fool-proof method though is to dive at the spoon and get as much cereal in her mouth as she can. Then, she shoves her thumb in and sucks it so she can actually swallow the cereal rather than watching fall down onto her belly. It's not so graceful, but it works, and she loves it. These are pictures from our first attempt, but she's gotten progressively less messy.
The very first taste
Our next big event was my birthday. Sam came home early and took Anna for about an hour. I read a book. It was lovely. When he came home, he had beautiful red roses and a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake with a flower on top. He told me I would have to wait until the weekend for my other present. We ate a yummy dinner at Olive Garden. Sam told them it was my birthday and the waitress told him, "Well then, have we got a surprise for her!" At the end of my meal, at least eight waiters gathered and sang an incomprehensible version of some birthday song and had me blow out a candle on my dessert: a dinner roll plate with nine Andes mints on it. Good thing we had ice cream cake waiting at home...
That week, we prepped for Ike, and you all know how that turned out. We actually had a great time that weekend. Sam came home early on Thurday and work was closed Friday. Despite the very stressful not knowing when or what exactly was coming, once the storm had passed, we just ate food, watched sports, made treats and took them to neighbors and friends, bought really expensive milk, and enjoyed the cool weather. We ate dinner with the Hatfields and the Mercers two fun and yummy nights in a row. Sam's work was closed Monday and Tuesday, so he went and helped clear debris. Though many were not nearly so lucky, we just had a general good time.
Dancing with Daddy to Michael Buble
A walk in the calm before the storm
storm damage
playing with friends during Hurricane Holiday
waking up Daddy on one of his few lazy mornings
Tuesday night, Sam and I went grocery shopping, and one of the librarians from our local library saw Anna and told us we should come to story time. I recognized the librarian from Marci's blog, but didn't want to weird her out, so I just mentioned that my friends went all the time. She screamed in the store when I mentioned Addie and Ella and has recognized me every time I come in. I have since embraced this beloved institution. I really enjoy going because it gives me a chance to interact with Anna outside the home, which is something I don't really do if we're out at the store or exercising. It's also nice for Anna to watch the other babies, and it's nice for me to talk to the other moms. Anna wore this outfit our first time, and all the babies loved her big red bow.
That week Sam also brought my birthday present which had been postponed due to Ike. He brought me a dieffenbachia which I named Henry (like Indianda Jones-he's a courageous and good looking plant). He also promised to go to a nursery with me to pick out any other plants I wanted. So now, I'm waiting till I have my fall/winter vegetable gardening class at HFP Enrichment Super Saturday in a couple weeks.
Sam had that Friday off work again, so after cleaning our apartment, we went to Five Guys for dinner. Sam first went during his internship in DC, but since then, they've franchised, so we drove 45 minutes to Richmond so I could try the most delicious burgers and fries I've ever had. Totally photo worthy. Sam's sad they're so far away, but I think that bodes well for our cardiovascular health.
I also baked some cookies that weekend using the NYTimes tips for chocolate chip cookies. They were really good (two days later) probably because Anna helped.
Since last week was a little quieter, I spent some time cooking. We had two other families over to enjoy this mock Cafe Rio salad. We still have a ton of the dressing. It's so good- and not so good for our cardiovascular health. I also made a yummy minestrone / Italian wedding soup, homemade meatballs from Susan's mom's recipe, and some homemade pizzas.
And now here we are, one day from the end of the month. This morning, Anna and I got up when Sam did and went to serve breakfast to some Ike evacuuees at Grace Baptist Church behind our old apartments. It was a fun morning and everyone loved little Anna (of course!) who barely slept at all yesterday and is making up for it today- which is why I've had time to write this really long post!
In another day or so, I should have this month's photos and videos up at my picasa page, but in the mean time, here are a few to whet your palates.
showing off her favorite shoes
how I found Anna one morning: escaped from the swaddle
a new favorite outfit
Halloween material?
I love that Dar Williams song. It felt more immediate when I was in school, but it is the end of the summer and I always get excited when fall rolls around. I still feel like things should begin in the fall. As Dar says, "It's just that time of year When we push ourselves ahead." Between the fresh-start feeling of fall and Elder Uchtdorf's inspiring talk at the General Relief Society meeting, I'm feeling antsy to start something. I'm not sure exactly what, but something. In the mean time, while I decide what that something is, I decided to chronicle what's already been done.
September has been a crazy month. Not really very eventful, but full. On Labor Day, Sam and I had planned to go to the zoo, but apparently, they were so busy last year, that they changed all their free days to obscure holidays like Columbus Day. Anna was crazy that day and refused to calm down, so we used our one trick and took her swimming.
It worked.
For dinner we all got dressed in our college football team gear and went to Chick-fil-A where we each (including Anna since she was dressed up too) got 3 free chicken strips. We added a fry and lemonade to share and had a great dinner for less than $4. Katrina came by afterward and watched Anna while Sam and I went to see Indiana Jones at the dollar theater. We really enjoyed the time away together and Anna was just starting to freak out when we came home.
Three days later was Anna's 4 month check-up. She was 16.5 lbs (95th percentile), 25.5 in (87th percentile), and I don't remember her head measurement, but it was 22nd percentile. Strange, huh? She also got more immunizations. The nurses at my pediatrician are great, and Anna gets all four shots and her bandaids on in about 27 seconds. It's not funny in the moment when my heart is breaking for my little girl, but looking back, I can laugh at how during all the shots she has that silent, horrified open mouth that you know is going to erupt in a huge scream at any moment, but it's not until the last bandaid is on and the nurse lets me pick her up that the scream finally comes. Despite its awfulness, it still amazes me.Anyway, Anna reacted to this round of shots just like the last one-- she slept and cuddled a lot. I can't complain too much about that. However, on the same day, I was feeling awful and got squeezed in at the doctor. So, about an hour after Anna's appointment, I had to wake her up from her deep sleep, drag her to the doctor's office, hold her with one hand while filling out paperwork with the other because she needed to be cuddled and comforted, and then feed her in the magazine section of the grocery store while I waited for my prescription to be filled. We finally came home and took long naps. Needless to say, it was not the best day for the Cosby women.
The next day, we went up to the temple in Klein. I did a session there while Sam watched Anna. Then we watched our niece, Isabelle, while Ben and Amy went to the temple with Amy's sister. And the next day, we went up again, so Sam could go to the temple, and I went to Amy's sister's bridal shower. After three days of being away from home, getting shots, and having erratic nap schedules and locations, Anna was exhausted, and so were we.
Even so, everyone loved seeing Anna, and she willingly smiled and gurgled and got passed around. And when the time came that Anna could finally get all the sleep she wanted, she happily succombed rather that putting up a fight. At some point in there, we fed Anna her first "solids" if you can classify soupy rice cereal as that. We stripped her down and went for it. She didn't know what to do at first, but has since had some great success with a spoon. Her fool-proof method though is to dive at the spoon and get as much cereal in her mouth as she can. Then, she shoves her thumb in and sucks it so she can actually swallow the cereal rather than watching fall down onto her belly. It's not so graceful, but it works, and she loves it. These are pictures from our first attempt, but she's gotten progressively less messy.
The very first taste
That week, we prepped for Ike, and you all know how that turned out. We actually had a great time that weekend. Sam came home early on Thurday and work was closed Friday. Despite the very stressful not knowing when or what exactly was coming, once the storm had passed, we just ate food, watched sports, made treats and took them to neighbors and friends, bought really expensive milk, and enjoyed the cool weather. We ate dinner with the Hatfields and the Mercers two fun and yummy nights in a row. Sam's work was closed Monday and Tuesday, so he went and helped clear debris. Though many were not nearly so lucky, we just had a general good time.
Dancing with Daddy to Michael Buble
A walk in the calm before the storm
storm damage
playing with friends during Hurricane Holiday
waking up Daddy on one of his few lazy mornings
That week Sam also brought my birthday present which had been postponed due to Ike. He brought me a dieffenbachia which I named Henry (like Indianda Jones-he's a courageous and good looking plant). He also promised to go to a nursery with me to pick out any other plants I wanted. So now, I'm waiting till I have my fall/winter vegetable gardening class at HFP Enrichment Super Saturday in a couple weeks.
Sam had that Friday off work again, so after cleaning our apartment, we went to Five Guys for dinner. Sam first went during his internship in DC, but since then, they've franchised, so we drove 45 minutes to Richmond so I could try the most delicious burgers and fries I've ever had. Totally photo worthy. Sam's sad they're so far away, but I think that bodes well for our cardiovascular health.
I also baked some cookies that weekend using the NYTimes tips for chocolate chip cookies. They were really good (two days later) probably because Anna helped.
Since last week was a little quieter, I spent some time cooking. We had two other families over to enjoy this mock Cafe Rio salad. We still have a ton of the dressing. It's so good- and not so good for our cardiovascular health. I also made a yummy minestrone / Italian wedding soup, homemade meatballs from Susan's mom's recipe, and some homemade pizzas.
And now here we are, one day from the end of the month. This morning, Anna and I got up when Sam did and went to serve breakfast to some Ike evacuuees at Grace Baptist Church behind our old apartments. It was a fun morning and everyone loved little Anna (of course!) who barely slept at all yesterday and is making up for it today- which is why I've had time to write this really long post!
In another day or so, I should have this month's photos and videos up at my picasa page, but in the mean time, here are a few to whet your palates.
showing off her favorite shoes
how I found Anna one morning: escaped from the swaddle
a new favorite outfit
Halloween material?Monday, September 22, 2008
the stars at night are big and bright...
...deep in the heart of Texas!
Anna would make such a cute little cowgirl. And it would give me a chance to try my hand at making a hobby horse. Two reasons why I would love to win this one from Grosgrain.
Anna would make such a cute little cowgirl. And it would give me a chance to try my hand at making a hobby horse. Two reasons why I would love to win this one from Grosgrain.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
getti's accessories
I like clothes. A lot. So it's always disappointing to me when I go shopping, itching to buy something, and come back empty-handed. For a long time, I didn't buy things that I liked for two reasons. First, it was either too low-cut or too wide-cut, which led to the second: if I wanted to wear it, I'd have to wear another shirt under it, and Houston is just too hot for me to do that.
Enter the solution to my two greatest fashion conundrums:
the t-let.
What is a t-let, you say? A t-let is like a tank top only it ends just below the bust instead of at the waist. That means that no shirt is ever too low or too wide cut, and I'm never too hot since I don't have all that extra fabric hanging around my middle. Can you imagine the comfort? Where were these when I was pregnant?!
I know, I know. You don't have to tell me. It's your dream come true, too. And now you want to know where to get them.
Well, I'll tell you. There are two great sources for t-lets. The first, is Getti's Accessories which is started by two brilliant women who had this amazing idea and brought it to life. This is where I buy my t-lets. They have great prices and very personal service. I ordered three (the more you buy, the more you save, and even if you don't wear them every day like I do, 3 for $30 is a steal) and they came in just a few days. When I had a question about their website, they contacted me personally in response.
The second place you can get a t-let is from me. I have a white, straight-neck style t-let in a medium, that I am going to give away to one of the seven people who read my blog regularly.
Wait, did you catch that? I'm doing my very first giveaway! I'm a real blogger!
Here's what you need to do to win. First, check out the Getti's Accessories website. Second, come back here and leave a comment telling me which style of t-let you like the most. Third, describe this Hot new product using an adjective that begins with the same first letter of your first name. I'll pick a winner on September 30.
In the mean time, if you'd like to get some more t-lets in other styles and colors, be sure to enter my name (Heather Cosby) in the spot where it asks who referred you. If you do that, I win free merchandise, which I might just feel inclined to pass right back along to you in future giveaways! Especially if it's a headband-- they look funky on my head, but I'm sure they'd look fabulous on you.
So check it out, get your creative adjective juices flowing, and discover the Hoopla-worthy* t-let!
*yes- that was a stretch
5 hours later....
I really went brain-dead on H adjectives, but Sam and I did a little stormin' session and came up with
Handy-dandy
Heavenly
Helluva good
Heartening
Hyperbolic
Hybrid ("That means 'good' now" -Sam)
Hip- how did I not think of that one?!
Enter the solution to my two greatest fashion conundrums:
the t-let.
What is a t-let, you say? A t-let is like a tank top only it ends just below the bust instead of at the waist. That means that no shirt is ever too low or too wide cut, and I'm never too hot since I don't have all that extra fabric hanging around my middle. Can you imagine the comfort? Where were these when I was pregnant?!
I know, I know. You don't have to tell me. It's your dream come true, too. And now you want to know where to get them.
Well, I'll tell you. There are two great sources for t-lets. The first, is Getti's Accessories which is started by two brilliant women who had this amazing idea and brought it to life. This is where I buy my t-lets. They have great prices and very personal service. I ordered three (the more you buy, the more you save, and even if you don't wear them every day like I do, 3 for $30 is a steal) and they came in just a few days. When I had a question about their website, they contacted me personally in response.
The second place you can get a t-let is from me. I have a white, straight-neck style t-let in a medium, that I am going to give away to one of the seven people who read my blog regularly.
Wait, did you catch that? I'm doing my very first giveaway! I'm a real blogger!
Here's what you need to do to win. First, check out the Getti's Accessories website. Second, come back here and leave a comment telling me which style of t-let you like the most. Third, describe this Hot new product using an adjective that begins with the same first letter of your first name. I'll pick a winner on September 30.
In the mean time, if you'd like to get some more t-lets in other styles and colors, be sure to enter my name (Heather Cosby) in the spot where it asks who referred you. If you do that, I win free merchandise, which I might just feel inclined to pass right back along to you in future giveaways! Especially if it's a headband-- they look funky on my head, but I'm sure they'd look fabulous on you.
So check it out, get your creative adjective juices flowing, and discover the Hoopla-worthy* t-let!
*yes- that was a stretch
5 hours later....
I really went brain-dead on H adjectives, but Sam and I did a little stormin' session and came up with
Handy-dandy
Heavenly
Helluva good
Heartening
Hyperbolic
Hybrid ("That means 'good' now" -Sam)
Hip- how did I not think of that one?!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
ike news
Well, the storm is over and passed, and we did just fine. At our apartment complex there were a few trees and rain gutters down, and a few cars damaged, but nothing of ours was damaged. Sam's sister came to stay with us last night, and we're glad she did. Her apartment is without electricity or water, and she said the city of Houston is trashed with roofs ripped off, windows broken, and a steamy, dreary weird feeling. The TV news says that about 2 million people are without power and it may take weeks before its restored.
We went to watch the BYU-UCLA football game (59-0, BYU! Go Cougs!) at the office of a dentist in our ward. They had power restored to their outlets, but not to the AC, and we found out from the other people there that most of Cinco Ranch doesn't have power, so we're feeling very blessed and lucky. We've offered everyone we can a place to get cold drinks, hot showers, laundry, AC, or internet access, and if you're reading this and need any of those things, feel free to send us a text message and come on over. (Our number in the ward directory is my cell phone).
Anyway, we're fine and feeling very blessed. We're SO glad to have power, especially with little Anna. We don't have church tomorrow and Sam may not have work on Monday, so Sam is feeling pretty antsy. He'd love to go into Houston and help with the clean up. I'll write some updates as they're relevant. In the meantime, thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!
We went to watch the BYU-UCLA football game (59-0, BYU! Go Cougs!) at the office of a dentist in our ward. They had power restored to their outlets, but not to the AC, and we found out from the other people there that most of Cinco Ranch doesn't have power, so we're feeling very blessed and lucky. We've offered everyone we can a place to get cold drinks, hot showers, laundry, AC, or internet access, and if you're reading this and need any of those things, feel free to send us a text message and come on over. (Our number in the ward directory is my cell phone).
Anyway, we're fine and feeling very blessed. We're SO glad to have power, especially with little Anna. We don't have church tomorrow and Sam may not have work on Monday, so Sam is feeling pretty antsy. He'd love to go into Houston and help with the clean up. I'll write some updates as they're relevant. In the meantime, thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
i like ike?
Sam and I are trying to decide whether or not we should evacuate. A few of my friends in the ward have already left and all fall into the "very small child" category of reasons why they're skipping town. We're not in the mandatory or even voluntary evacuation zones and heard a plea on the radio not to evacuate so the roads don't get bad for those who have to leave. But we're still undecided. I can tell that Sam's leaning toward staying, but as the one who cares for Anna all day, I think I may possibly, but am not entirely sure I am leaning towards leaving. In an effort to "study it out in [my] mind," and taking inspiration from Rory Gilmore, I wrote up this list, and Sam told me I should put it on my blog.
If we were to evacuate, these are the:
PROS
- No time without power, water, AC
- Get to see our family
- Don't have to drive in a hurricane if the power is out too long
- Safe from potential damage-- downed power lines, glass breaking
- Flushable toilets
- Not hot
- Anna would be comfortable-ish
- Not stuck in our tiny apartment
- Time off from Anna with a host of babysitters
- Have to prep the apt. for damage-- get everything off the floor, keep water out of doors
- Food in fridge goes bad/uneaten
- Anna in the car for hours, then in a strange house for day(s)
- Traffic out of the city
- Traffic back into the city
- Can't prevent damage to our belongings as the storm happens
- Possible good story/ego boost for surviving a hurricane is lost
- Branded cowards and wusses for the rest of our days
- Have to share Sam with his siblings/ the Wii instead of having him to ourselves
- Have to figure out logistics of getting Sam back to work on Monday even if power is out
Sunday, September 07, 2008
a woman's work
There has been lots of talk in the mom-blogosphere about Sarah Palin. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion about her, but I'm most fascinated by the strange contradiction her candidacy has brought up. While most social conservatives agree with her values-- pro-life and marriage for her pregnant teen daughter-- they also balk at the fact that she is ready to take on one of the most high-profile, time-consuming jobs in the country with a young family that includes a new baby with Down's syndrome and a pregnant teen. At the same time, many of those who are cheering her on as the next champion of equality of the sexes are squeemish about her evangelical Christian, gun-toting, pro-life background. The question is, should you vote Palin into office, just to advance a woman, even if you don't agree with her politics, or should you vote against her to declare that she's making the wrong choice? Your thoughts? (I'd say no to the second question since she's clearly not going to drop out of high-profile politics any time soon, no matter how this election plays out.)
Personally, I find myself somewhere in the middle (as usual). I'm certainly against abortion, and I agree that children should have a married mom and dad. Clearly, I feel it's important for a mother to be at home raising and teaching her children, and thankfully, I have a husband who feels the same way and is willing to be the sole financial provider for our family. However, I agree that whether a mother works is a decision to be made within each family, and there is no one right solution. Hopefully, the Palin family made the decision to have Sarah run as VP together, and with prayer. As women's rights go, I'm in the parity camp. Men and women have equal value and worth, but generally have different strengths and responsibilities. See the latest NY Times articles (here and here) on differences between the sexes.
The debate about these issues is not a new one and it seems, as Michelle Lamar, a blogger, said in this NPR piece about the Palin dilemma, "There is no good answer" to whether or not a mom should work. However, I feel I have a clearer understanding of the issue because of my faith. In 1995, President Gordon B. Hinckley read a new statement entitled "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" at the General Relief Society Meeting, the annual meeting of the world's oldest and largest women's organization. It outlined the centrality of the family to God's plan for His children, the role of mothers and fathers, and how to have a unified and successful family. This is not a suggestion from a wise man, but rather Heavenly Father's message to His children delivered through His chosen Prophet.
It explains that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."
This helps explain our Church's stance against same-sex marriage. According to the statement, "The Divine Institution of Marriage," "The Church does not object to rights... regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights..." for same-sex couples. The Church also holds the same standards of morality for any person, gay or straight, which is no sexual relations outside lawful marriage. So their purpose in opposing same-sex marriage is not to discriminate, but rather to uphold an eternal standard for all people. My sister Karen and friend Jocelyn both have excellent blog posts on this subject.
But I digress...back to mothers and their role in the family.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World states "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children.... Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live....
"...Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed."
This is the model that Sam and I are trying to emulate in our own family. I know several families where either both parents work, or the mother is the sole financial provider where parents are clearly fulfilling these "sacred responsibilities." So while Sarah Palin is making a different choice than I would, I think it's possible for her to still have a successful family if it is established on the principles outlined above.
I want to finish by saying that I know God's plan for His children is to live eternally with Him with our families. I can't explain why there are so many who find abuse and neglect in their families, or why some people are attracted to members of the same sex, or why some women can't have children. But I do know that God loves His Children. He loves you. He cares for you. He knows you and is aware of your concerns, your struggles, and your joys. He loves me. He is aware of me and my family. And He has blessed us so greatly. My daily prayers are not enough to thank Him for the abundance of spiritual and physical blessings I have been given. So many times while I am laughing with Sam or rocking Anna to sleep, I feel His love and know that He is pleased with our family.
I hope you feel that too, in your own life.
Personally, I find myself somewhere in the middle (as usual). I'm certainly against abortion, and I agree that children should have a married mom and dad. Clearly, I feel it's important for a mother to be at home raising and teaching her children, and thankfully, I have a husband who feels the same way and is willing to be the sole financial provider for our family. However, I agree that whether a mother works is a decision to be made within each family, and there is no one right solution. Hopefully, the Palin family made the decision to have Sarah run as VP together, and with prayer. As women's rights go, I'm in the parity camp. Men and women have equal value and worth, but generally have different strengths and responsibilities. See the latest NY Times articles (here and here) on differences between the sexes.
The debate about these issues is not a new one and it seems, as Michelle Lamar, a blogger, said in this NPR piece about the Palin dilemma, "There is no good answer" to whether or not a mom should work. However, I feel I have a clearer understanding of the issue because of my faith. In 1995, President Gordon B. Hinckley read a new statement entitled "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" at the General Relief Society Meeting, the annual meeting of the world's oldest and largest women's organization. It outlined the centrality of the family to God's plan for His children, the role of mothers and fathers, and how to have a unified and successful family. This is not a suggestion from a wise man, but rather Heavenly Father's message to His children delivered through His chosen Prophet.
It explains that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."
This helps explain our Church's stance against same-sex marriage. According to the statement, "The Divine Institution of Marriage," "The Church does not object to rights... regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights..." for same-sex couples. The Church also holds the same standards of morality for any person, gay or straight, which is no sexual relations outside lawful marriage. So their purpose in opposing same-sex marriage is not to discriminate, but rather to uphold an eternal standard for all people. My sister Karen and friend Jocelyn both have excellent blog posts on this subject.
But I digress...back to mothers and their role in the family.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World states "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children.... Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live....
"...Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed."
This is the model that Sam and I are trying to emulate in our own family. I know several families where either both parents work, or the mother is the sole financial provider where parents are clearly fulfilling these "sacred responsibilities." So while Sarah Palin is making a different choice than I would, I think it's possible for her to still have a successful family if it is established on the principles outlined above.
I want to finish by saying that I know God's plan for His children is to live eternally with Him with our families. I can't explain why there are so many who find abuse and neglect in their families, or why some people are attracted to members of the same sex, or why some women can't have children. But I do know that God loves His Children. He loves you. He cares for you. He knows you and is aware of your concerns, your struggles, and your joys. He loves me. He is aware of me and my family. And He has blessed us so greatly. My daily prayers are not enough to thank Him for the abundance of spiritual and physical blessings I have been given. So many times while I am laughing with Sam or rocking Anna to sleep, I feel His love and know that He is pleased with our family.
I hope you feel that too, in your own life.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
shower time
I went to a great bridal shower today. It was black and white themed like the wedding will be. The hostess had delicious food and put white roses in black alligator skin pointy-toe heels. She also made Barbie doll wedding dresses as party favors! Oh the things you can do without small children!
Anyway, while checking out one of my new favorite sites Little Birdie Secrets I discovered this post about baby showers. I loved my baby shower for Anna, thrown by Amber and Leighanna and Vicki and have been to several more. At one we played a variation of the candy bar game she mentions here and it was great fun. Way better than lots of other cheesy games I've played at baby showers. I have to admit, I really liked the candy bar linked to conception... Too funny!
Anyway, while checking out one of my new favorite sites Little Birdie Secrets I discovered this post about baby showers. I loved my baby shower for Anna, thrown by Amber and Leighanna and Vicki and have been to several more. At one we played a variation of the candy bar game she mentions here and it was great fun. Way better than lots of other cheesy games I've played at baby showers. I have to admit, I really liked the candy bar linked to conception... Too funny!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
chick flick
I'm still torn about the Presidential election. I don't like McCain, and I don't like the Iraq war. I like Obama and I think he'd be a great ambassador to the rest of the world who hate Bush, but I'm not sure about some of his ideas for the economy and health care (which is another post... I'm a little more left than right on this one, but I'm not sure I like his take on it). So I've been waiting to see who the candidates would pick to be their running mates to see if that would influence my decision at all.
When Sen. John McCain announced his running mate choice of Gov. Sarah Palin on Friday, I'll admit it made me re-think my image of McCain. I had expected him to choose a "safe" candidate like Romney or Pawlenty, while secretly wanting to choose Lieberman. Instead, he chose Palin, the self-proclaimed "hockey mom."
I can see why: a woman might pick up some Hillary independents, Palin is evangelical and
pro-life, and young and hip like Obama.
Only, she's not hip like Obama. NO ONE is hip like Obama.
And, I know McCain's only 72, but still... Here's how Sam put it as we talked about it in the car. "The first thing everyone thought when Palin was announced was 'Really? Cool- she's a woman.' And the next thing they thought was, 'What if McCain dies? Do we really want her to be President?'"
It's easy to poke fun at the choice. And, for better or for worse, Maureen Dowd did a really good job of doing just that. Enjoy.
*By the way-- the magazine cover is a fake
When Sen. John McCain announced his running mate choice of Gov. Sarah Palin on Friday, I'll admit it made me re-think my image of McCain. I had expected him to choose a "safe" candidate like Romney or Pawlenty, while secretly wanting to choose Lieberman. Instead, he chose Palin, the self-proclaimed "hockey mom."
I can see why: a woman might pick up some Hillary independents, Palin is evangelical and
pro-life, and young and hip like Obama.Only, she's not hip like Obama. NO ONE is hip like Obama.
And, I know McCain's only 72, but still... Here's how Sam put it as we talked about it in the car. "The first thing everyone thought when Palin was announced was 'Really? Cool- she's a woman.' And the next thing they thought was, 'What if McCain dies? Do we really want her to be President?'"
It's easy to poke fun at the choice. And, for better or for worse, Maureen Dowd did a really good job of doing just that. Enjoy.
*By the way-- the magazine cover is a fake
Saturday, August 30, 2008
sleep and anna
Those must be pretty important to me because they show up nice and big on this wordle.net representation of my blog:
Thursday, August 28, 2008
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