Confessions

I know it has been eons since I last did a confessions post, so here to those with baited breath!

1. I am not exactly all the fond of my daughter right now. If you were to ask me which kid was my favorite, I would say it was my son. I wonder if there will be periods where I will switch back and forth between who I like more. But please, notice I said "like" and not "love" as one is a feeling and the other is a commitment.

2. The summer home disaster is in full swing. With working more hours and having twice the kid attention, it looks like a bomb went off in the house. There is this repeated amount of everything junk that can't seem to find its way off the back of the couch. I have lawn clippings on the rug and walk ways because our lawn guy can't seem to figure out which direction to mow that won't shoot them at our front door.

3. You have a pretty good shot at finding a wrapped up dirty diaper in the house.

4. I can't help but feel a little guilty for pushing for a little San Diego getaway with Nolan for a week while Mr. G and Eliza stay back in New York. But at the same time, Mr. G has a music commitment over the holiday weekend and DOES have childcare available to him at family camp. Otherwise, family camp is not very family friendly when you don't get to sleep with your husband and you are left with the kids in your room, which is just a small private counselor room inside a cabin.

5. I can't help but feel torn about where we are living. Some changes have happened in ministry supervision above me and the changes have been night and day...for the better. At the same time, we are only treading water at the moment with where we want to head in our lives. Things have made a turn for the better with my job, but at the same time, working in youth ministry can burn you out and at times you long for a different pace. Fun tricks and ideas from your magic bag can only be used so many times until you run out of new things to offer.

Okay, I think that is all for now. I didn't have the greatest night of sleep and Nolan doesn't make it any easier. With having a MOPS leadership meeting tonight at 8pm to start planning the up coming fall kick off, this momma thinks she might be hurting at the end of it all.

Tis my life!

Happy Six Months

Our big BIG Girl Bed Experience

We've recently transitioned Eliza into her new and hopefully long time use bed. Last summer, I remember switching her out of the crib to a toddler bed at around 15.5 months, in preparation of Nolan coming later on. Plus, I didn't want her to find out that she was capable of being able to climb out of the crib.

As you can see, when Mr. G came home one night and checked in on her first nights sleep, this is how we found her. she fell out and into her treasure chest of stuffed animals and could have cared less.

The next night, a guardrail went in that came with the separated hand me down bunk beds upper bunk. All in all, the transition has gone pretty smooth with no real tears when I took the bed out to the garage for when Nolan is ready for that milestone. There were also no tears for mommy either. We will continue using most of the toddler bedding with the exception  of the fitted sheet until she can make her own bed :)

If it Fits it Ships

   

No, we are not posting pictures of a new way to torchure an infant or a new piece of baby gear from Babies R Us. 

After our child care worker commented on the way Nolan was breathing, we decided to take a more serious look into this congestion we were just chalking up to allergies and teething. This then lead to chest x-rays. And if you had ever wondered just how those x-ray technicians keep an infant from moving to get a good picture...here you have it.  

Verdict: Bronchilitus  

I guess if a baby is to get this, it hits its peak at around 6 months. Hmmm, sounds about right. The treatment for this is regular nebulizer sessions. The first one was, well...LOUD! Nolan did NOT like the face mask and cried through the whole thing. The next morning, we did it again as prescribed and he is slowly but surely, being okay with it.

Whew!

The pediatrician couldn't believe how happy Nolan was despite all this extra crap in his lungs. He wasn't exactly a fan of the x-ray experience, but quickly went to squeals and grins after. Now if only he was this happy when going through a teething fit? I think he's getting his k9's along with the front top at the same time.

Slow down baby boy! 

Mmmm, Mmmm Good!

Since after we've made it past the 5 mo mark, solids have been a lot easier in getting most of the food to stay in the mouth. We've tried rice cereal, oat meal, apples, pear, chicken, sweet potato and bananas. Since Eliza, I love the Munchkin brand spoons for this stage in eating. The bumbo tray is a new addition and will try and transition him to a space saver chair later on as Eliza still uses her high chair as a booster stool.

There are many times where it seems like I can't shovel the food in fast enough. As I am sure I will be a little sad, I do look forward to the self feeding phase.

I'll Be Your Best Friend

"I once had 17 pen pals, but I did all the writing" - Charlie Brown

 

Relational experts say that the average friendship lasts 7 years until it fades away. With that being said, I have some friends I've known since grade school. 

Many of them still live in and around the area of my home town. Since moving away after college, it has been a struggle ever since to be okay with these long distance friendships. With the help of Facebook, it has helped bridge the distance gap of knowing what is still going on in their lives. Yet, sometimes it makes it all the more painful because I am reminded of what I am missing out on. Almost like never getting the invite, but getting an invitation to the after party. I've missed weddings, babies be born, birthdays, camp outs and girls night outs.

I will try and pick up the phone, or write a message. After awhile, you get tired of hearing their voice mail message time and time again. You may pour out your heart in the comings and goings of what has been going on in your life, only to get a few words returned.

What is hard for me to deal with is ALL of this is outside of my control. I can't change how these people communicate, nor demand them to reciprocate. I also can not jump on a plane and visit them when I feel like it. They are simply living their lives with those near them and may not have the same need or desire of anything more than that. It is their choice as it should be for anyone.

Ministry can be a lonely place when you are on the other side of it. Others might think you are surrounded by people, but God has called you away from your comfort zone and in HIS way, changing and molding you. The process is never painless.

At the same time, if I was given the chance to move back where I grew up, I know I wouldn't be happy after the novelty had worn off. Great to visit, but these friendships don't fit into my luggage. Though it may not appear, I am glad of living in the North East and the different cultures and real weather seasons it brings. The friendships I've made out here are just different than the deep rooted ones I was surrounded by in HS and college. I find myself trying to make them feel like the friendships I grew up with, but only resulting in comparing apples to oranges and feeling disappointed. 

Maybe in time, when or if God has called these wonderful folks in other directions or places, missing my home won't sting as much?

But I do love and care for these folks despite the distance...home sickness just sucks is all.

Have Pool, Will Play

I love it when the weather cooperates on my weekends off from ministry. The summers have been the hardest to be a working mother when I would love to be able to spend this nice time outside with my kids. Not to mention having to say no when my mom's group folks are off on opening day of blue berry picking, enjoying Delta Lake State Park or mid week birthday pool parties.

After putting the kiddie slide in the kiddie pool, it was apparent that a bigger pool was going to be in our near future. Now that friends have joined in the wet fun, the water quickly escapes from splashes. Mommy now just needs to do a yard sale to find some extra guilt free mad money.

We had a good time playing and grilling out for a Sunday afternoon dinner despite the constant slapping of skeeters. With all the rain we've had this year, they are out in force and getting the best of all of us. 

It's Not Easy Being Green

We found a little frog while playing outside late Sunday afternoon. Eliza wouldn't go near it, but Nolan didn't seem to mind. I am sure he was wondering what the heck was crawling around his head :)

Recent Sewing Inspiration

I've recently been on a sewing kick for aviation themed baby boy clothes. Pintrest has been a good source for direction, but mostly I've taken to Illustrator to get just what I wanted and for free! 

I really like the quality of the H&M onesies, especially when they are 3 for 12! The sizes run larger and they put elastic around the legs. Over all, a much nicer quality onesie compared to Gerber or even Carters.

I was able to use my new Washi tape to help photograph these babies while utilizing some natural lighting in the office :)

Water

Central Park (kid free) Experience

Yes folks, you heard it right. Mr. G and I were blessed to go out in the early afternoon to Central Park while the chitlens stayed back with grandpa and grandma. I can't even remember when the last time we've been able to do something like this, which means it prolly means it's been way over due. 

I have wished to go to the park in the summer months for a long time. When Mr. G and I were dating, we took a trip out to NY from the PNW right after Thanksgiving. The park then was dead, cold and not very inviting. This time around, we were able to go and rent a boat for an hour. It is actually very reasonably priced at 12 an hour. If you think about it, 12 bucks is very cheap for entertainment in the city.

Mr. G enjoying his dirty water hot dog when strolling around the Mall portion which is where many movies have filmed this part of the park.

You just never know what one will see, as I captured this sight while feeling like a paparazzi in the process. 

A street performer would create these enormous bubbles which would reach 6-9 feet long. Each one was never the same as the last, each having a mind and almost soul quality as it floated above the hot concrete before it vanished in its own mist. For a small tip, the gentleman would let you try your hand at creating one of these long monstrous creations.  

There were other various street performers in some well know frequented areas, such as this woman who had a violin. I love the back lighting in this shot so much.

For an island where most folks do not own a car and walk all over the city, many of the one way streets are littered with long strings of taxis and business vehicles. Pedestrians tended to view cross walk signals as only a guideline. The heat from all these cars radiated against your legs while walking and not leaving the subway terminals any reprieve from the heat. Uniformed officers walked around with a hand towel to wipe the beads of sweat from their brows.

All in all, it was a nice mini getaway for us all. I even stumbled upon a camera shop and was able to purchase a great lens in the process. I miss having a camera store locally where I can test things out and ask specific questions.

Here is my NYC Bucket list

Subway Ride >

Taxi ride >

Empire State Observation Deck >

Broadway show

Boat ride in Central Park >

Touch the giant bull in the Financial District >

Statue of Liberty visit >

Eat a dirty water hot dog >

Tip a street performer

Ice Skate in Bryant Park >

View Macy's Christmas window displays >

Shop at FAO >

Spot a celebrity