Pictures Are So Fun

And since they are so fun, I thought I would share a few. Have you noticed how wordy I've been lately and not so picturey? (Yeah, I made those words up.) I was tired of the average pictures my camera takes inside and was really looking forward to taking some good pictures with natural light. I got a few keepers that I've been looking forward to sharing.


Kingston and I got a good giggle over his hair on another of the really cold days last week. I was giggling because I could see what the microfiber couch was doing to his baby-fine hair. He was probably just giggling because I was giggling.





One day this week (I can't seem to remember which day exactly. I must have vomited that memory out yesterday) Kingston and I went into the backyard to play. We are sorely lacking in the backyard toy department so we had to make do. (And just a side note: Uncle Mark was supposed to build a swing set for Kingston for his birthday/Christmas present but funds got a little tight right about the time he was going to start it. Let's just say it's a good thing Kingston doesn't understand promises just yet. Can you imagine how disappointed he would be if he were a few years older?) Can you identify what Kingston ended up playing on?







Yep. The heat pump. He really liked walking along the side of it. Around and around. Over and over. Man, we need some outdoor toys! And speaking of man. . . Man down!



One minor reason why we haven't spent a lot of time outside lately is what happens when we come inside. Tragic, really.



This was the last picture of my cute decorative ladder before I had to move it due to the curiosity of my boy child. It was really only a matter of time before he tried to climb it. Better safe than sorry.





Pictures are fun, agreed? I can't wait for warmer weather and yard toys. We will be outside and snapping shots like it's our job! Maybe Uncle Mark will win the lottery and build that swing set. . . Or maybe we'll just wait til Christmas 2012.

**Update: Thanks for changing my blog header, Eden! It looks great. But then again, I think you had some good material to work with :).

Ahhhh. Much Better Now

The flu bug came and went pretty quickly, thank goodness. But it did put me totally out of commission all day yesterday. Kingston and I were going to try out a new morning playgroup but that didn't happen. Nigel was supposed to leave for Wilmington yesterday for work but that didn't happen. He wins another star in his crown for staying home and taking care of Kingston and me yesterday. It took him about an hour to realize that I really was sick and really did need his help, but once he figured that out, he was off to the grocery store for some saltines and ginger ale. He took care of Kingston all day while I rested. What a guy.

Today Nigel has hit the road and Kingston and I are determined to do something fun. Haven't quite figured out what that fun will be just yet, but we'll figure something out. Maybe we'll go to Wal-mart and get the things he needs for starting daycare on Tuesday. Diapers, wipes, change of clothes. Doesn't that sound like a ton of fun? Well, take my word for it. It's better than the stomach bug.

Totally Should Have Knocked on Wood

So my theory about Kingston not passing his illness along to any adults was wrong.

I just pried my butt off the toilet and my head out of a trashcan to tell you that.

Thanks and have a good day.

Updates!

1. Kingston seems to be feeling tons better. He didn't throw up all night and only woke up coughing once but only for a minute. He ate breakfast and drank some water and is now taking a nap. Whew! First major sickness done.

2. I went to check out Ms. Cindy's daycare this morning. I love Ms. Cindy! I think we are going to send Kingston to her 2, maybe 3 days a week. It will be so good for him and me, too, I think. Ms. Cindy is more expensive than some of the other people I have looked into, but overall I think it is worth it. There were 4 little boys there this morning and I knew all of their parents! I also know some of the other kids who go there in the summer. We have to let Ms. Cindy know by Thursday. Childcare drama done. I think.

3. Now if I can just get my W-2 from my part-time bookkeeping job, we will be on our way to a tax refund that will keep us from going in the red.

Father of the Year

That would be Nigel.

Right before I left for dinner with girlfriends, Kingston threw up in his highchair. We both tried to make up excuses as to why he threw up, trying NOT to believe it had anything to do with having spent yesterday morning with his little buddy Riley, who threw up twice yesterday afternoon. I was determined to go out to dinner with my girls since we were supposed to go on Tuesday but got snowed in. Nigel did not ask me to stay home, so away I went.

I got a phone call not long after arriving at Mama Kwan's. Nigel rarely calls me when I'm out with the girls. He's good like that. He just wanted me to know that Kingston had thrown up again in the bath tub and again after drinking some water. He said he was okay and didn't need me to come home. He didn't call me again until 8:30 to tell me that Kingston had not held anything down and was now throwing up nothing but liquid. It was time to come home.

When I walked in the door I saw Nigel on the couch with Kingston in his lap and a palm full of throw-up and a pacifier. Kingston was very happy to see Mom and I think Nigel was even happier! I took over puke duty and actually got Kingston to drink some Gatorade and keep it down. I held him for a bit to make sure it was staying down and then finally put him to bed at about 9:45. So far so good. Poor little guy. I hope he is over it now.

I was so very impressed with Nigel's grace under pressure. He did all the right things in a very unfamiliar situation. It is amazing how such things can make you love your husband even more than you already do. Who knew that having him stay home cleaning up puke and taking care of a sick baby could pull at my heartstrings? It totally worked. I nominate Nigel for Father AND Husband of the Year.

And I'm so happy that Kingston seems to be feeling better. Oh, and I'm terribly sorry for using the words throw up and puke so many times in one post. Gross.

Daycare Dilemma

Having a daycare dilemma is not something I ever really wanted to have. I've never really spent much time and energy thinking about daycare because I have sort of just blocked out the possibility and necessity of it. I have now come to a crossroads.

My job is requiring me, as a salary employee, to take the place of an hourly employee a few days a week to help offset the inevitable economic downturn this year is sure to produce. Last year Kingston went with me to work about 3 mornings a week. That was until he was mobile and required so much attention. Now it is just not possible to bring him into the dining room of the restaurant while I work. So this is the part where daycare comes in. I am going to need it 2-3 days a week. Great.

So help me work this out. In order to pay for daycare (on average $30/day for part-time) for 3 days a week, max, I would have to pay out about $90.00/week. I cannot currently afford to pay $90.00/week with the salary that I am making now. I will have to make at least and additional $90.00/week to not go backwards. And since I refuse to work just to pay for daycare, I will have to make MORE than that in 3 days. Basically, this means I will have to wait tables at least 2 of the 3 days to make enough money to pay for daycare and bring home a little extra.

OK. So I guess that is decided. Now comes the part where I have to decide where to take Kingston. Most daycare centers require you to commit to 5 days of care, on average of $150.00. Not going to happen. I would prefer to put Kingston in an in-home daycare where he would be with only a few other kids and where they would allow me to do only 3 days. We have an appointment tomorrow morning to check out one place (who wants me to commit to switching to full-time in the summer), and I left a message for another lady who I hope to hear from tonight. This really isn't easy.

Don't get me wrong, I am definitely not against daycare in any way. I guess I sort of hoped to be able to make a living and still be a stay at home mom. I'm not sure how I thought that would work out, but I a girl can dream, can't she? I also know that I'm not the only one in this boat. My friend Mandy is struggling with a work/money/baby situation, my friend Anna was considering keeping Kingston until she decided to take a full-time job with benefits and now has to put her little boy in daycare, and my friend Eden gets crap for being a stay at home mom sometimes. You really just can't win when it comes to childcare.

If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations, I would love to hear them. Now who wants to ask me again if we are ready to have baby number 2?

Before It Melts

I'll post some snow pictures. I didn't get many because, honestly, I hate cold weather and I especially don't like to be wet and cold. My wardrobe is not conducive to snow.

Kingston checked out the snow from his vantage point on the couch.

And then checked it out with Dad.

Able liked the snow, too. Don't animals' feet get frozen walking on the snow?!

Kingston wore layers. And layers. And layers. I dressed him as if he were going to the arctic tundra!

See? We had a lot of snow.

Hanging in the yard with Dad, Pappy and Ms. Brandi. Didn't stay out there too long.

Snow was fun. Now I'm ready for it to melt already! I was supposed to go out with some girls last night but we cancelled due to weather. Bummer. We will be rescheduling. Snow, schmow.

Another Camera Raffle!

A few months back I entered a raffle to win a Canon camera (of my dreams). There is another such raffle going on now at another website and I've entered that one, too. And to top it off, the money goes to help a family raise enough money to adopt and bring a little girl home from Korea. The blog is called A Sister for the Bean and it might be added to my list of addictions! Of course, my favorite MckMama sent me there in the first place. Love that blog! So I encourage you to enter the raffle and support this family's quest to adopt a sweet little girl. And if you win, I suggest you give the camera to the author of your favorite blog. That would be me, of course. Thanks.

Snow pictures. Anyone interested?

She's Here!

Ella Jennings R---- was born this morning to my great friend Mere! She was 7 lbs. and 20 inches long. According to the text, delivery went great! I am so excited for her and her family and I LOVE the name that they kept secret from us. Ella is a sweet name and Jennings was the middle name of Mere's late father so I think it is so special that they used it. And especially for their little girl. Big H would have eaten this little girl up. I know he would have. He would have loved her big brother Sam to peices but this little girl would have stolen his heart. Well, stolen it again, since Mere took it right away a little over 31 years ago! :)

So congrats, Mere and Stu! Oh, and Sam. Be nice to your new little sister! I can't wait to meet her. Or at least see pictures soon!

Uh-oh. Baby fever has temporarily set in. I must go change a dirty diaper or pay Kingston's health insurance bill or something.

Who Wants Cake?

I wish I could slice this huge cake up and send a piece to all of my blog readers. All 3 of you!

The cake.

The frosting. Man my arms are hairy. Just kidding. Nigel did the frosting.

The finished product. Looks pretty good if I do say so myself.

A few slices missing. It was a very pretty cake. It tasted pretty good, too. It was a little more dense than I expected, but I am chalking that up to the fact that I think the baking soda that I have in my cabinet is the only can I've ever bought and I think I bought it about 5 years ago. And considering this recipe called for 4 teaspoons. . . Oops. Regardless, the flavor of the cake was yum.

Kingston really enjoyed the cake. He got all jacked up on sugar and was crawling circles around me. Literally. He finally went to bed at 8:45.

Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes in one technological way or another. I've gotten texts, picture texts with sound, messages on my Facebook wall, comments on MySpace and emails. I actually did get a few phone calls, too, which was nice-thanks Lars and Brandy. My mom and dad bought us dinner at La Fogota and then came over for cake and presents. They always do too much. Thanks, Mom and Dad. For everything. And thanks, Nigel, for helping me bake my birthday cake. I didn't find any egg shell in my piece!

I had a great birthday. 31. I'm officially in my "early thirties." Hooray.

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.



I did not get mad at Nigel last night when, while "helping" me make my birthday cake, he tried to be cool-guy and crack the egg into the spinning mixer with one hand and dropped 1/2 of the shell in the mix.

I also didn't tell him that I wasn't going to post about it. Oops. Posting about it. . . But he deserves it ;) I don't even try to crack eggs with one hand. Especially into a Kitchenaid mixer with a revolving AND rotating paddle. Men.

I do not often let Kingston stay in his pajama's until after his morning nap. Today was not one of those days.

I had not been in the house for the last 3 days straight and was excited to get out and go to Wal-Mart this morning. I'm way cooler than spending my birthday in Wal-Mart for fun. Way cooler.

I am not super excited about going to eat dirty Mexican tonight for my birthday. Nigel hasn't made it a point to tell his friends that it is my choice to go there and not him being cheap!

I am not getting a cold on my birthday. That would just be unfair. Good thing that isn't happening. Sniff. Sniff. Blow. Blow.


That's all, folks. Pictures of the birthday cake later. All of the parts are made, it just has to be assembled and I'm waiting for Nigel to get home from surfing to do that. And then it has to be tasted, of course. I'll let you know. Hopefully most of the eggshell was removed by my frustrated, annoyed fingers last night!

A Goatee, A Hair-Do, and Pizza

Kingston has a bit of a cold and cough. He may also be teething. Why do I think this?




Perhaps it was the drool/spit goatee he was sporting after his morning nap. Teething=drool. I haven't yet seen any new teeth but I'm still on the lookout.

-----


It has been really cold here the last few days. Well, cold for us. I know it is much colder elsewhere, but for us, it is cold. My mom was just talking about the funny hair some kids at her school were sporting these last few days, due to the weather. Kingston might have been listening in on the conversation and thought he would give them a run for their money.





His hair has been a static-y mess all day!

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For Christmas, Mom gave me a new cookbook. I LOVE cookbooks. I never understood how my grandmother could enjoy reading a cookbook. I mean, you don't read them, you just look up and follow recipes from them. At least that's what I used to think. You know, before I got old and liked getting things like coasters as presents. Of course I really enjoy pictures in my cookbooks-the more pictures the better.


Anyway, the new cookbook is called A Passion for Baking and it is really great. Lots of great pictures and more tasty-sounding recipes than I can possibly bake! As soon as I get my hands on some loaf pans I am going to make some loaves of bread. I really wanted to make something from it tonight for dinner so I decided on pizza dough. I've never made pizza dough before and I have to say that it was easier than I thought. I made enough dough to make 2 big pizzas.





I spread both pies with a store-bought Alfredo Sauce and topped them with a little provolone and a lot of shredded mozzarella. One pizza got garlic, sauteed spinach and sliced Roma tomatoes. The other got roasted asparagus and red peppers and sliced sirloin. I forgot to take a picture of either of the pizzas before or after baking. They were gorgeous. I did remember to take one before they were demolished, however.




They turned out to be really, really good. The spinach and tomato pizza was the favorite, but not by much. The verdict was to make the pizza with the sirloin with a red sauce instead of the white sauce. Noted. And there will be a next time on the pizza dough. It was so tasty.


-----

For my birthday present, since we are a little short on funds, I asked Nigel if he would help me bake my birthday cake. Tomorrow, the day before my birthday and during Kingston's afternoon nap, Nigel and I are going to make the "Classic American Chocolate Layer Cake" from the new cookbook. I can't wait to see how it turns out. And to see how well Nigel and I bake together!!

The family who bakes together. . .

No News, But Fun Video

No news on the baby yet. Maybe she will hold off until Monday, which happens to be a very important day. It happens to be my birthday.

But what I do have, however, is video of Kingston walking! Enjoy.

Wait For It. . .

So I think one of the best ways to make people check blogs as obsessively as I do is to make them wait for some news. So.

One of my best friends, and member of The Core 4, is about to have her second baby. She has a little boy who will be 2 at the end of the month and baby girl is due any minute! She has kept her name a secret from us but has let us in on the fact that she is currently 3 cm dilated, 80% effaced and her doctor expects her to go into labor any day now-maybe any second now.

Is waiting for a baby to be born not the most exciting, nerve-wracking, thrilling thing you have ever experienced?! I think so, too. So join me on the wait! I'll keep you posted as I know more details. Stay tuned. . .

Good luck Mere-Mere! We're praying for you!

The Climbing Monkey

Kingston can climb up on his activity cube all by himself and he tried to stand up on it tonight. Great! And he can almost get his knee up on the side of the bathtub. Double great! The climbing monkey tries to climb and stand on any and everything he can manage. He is such a typical boy!

Kingston took a few more steps this evening after I got home from an early movie with my friend Nicole. We went to see Bride Wars and it was really cute. Total chick flick (duh!) but worth the matinee price. I had buttered popcorn and Diet Coke for dinner-can you tell I'm excited about that? Sad but true. I've been trying so hard to eat healthy and save money recently, so it was fun to spend a little money on myself and get a good snack, too! And then to come home to a really cute baby boy, half-naked on the changing table, after having spent the evening with his dad. Man, I love those boys! I would pay the $16.00 I spent at the movie theater to watch the two of them together any time.

The weather has been horrible the last 2 days. I'm ready for some sunshine! It is supposed to be really cold for the next few days but I'm hoping for no more rain. We have spent the mornings at the YMCA, which has been fun, but I'm ready to get out and about a little more. Hopefully tomorrow. . .

23 Steps

For my college friends (AKA The Core 4 and Kers), some of whom lurk obsessively but never comment, some of whom maybe sometimes remember to check my blog but never comment, and some of whom never check it because they aren't as obsessed with blogs as I am, I named this post for you. Remember 23 Steps on Franklin Street? I think we spent several fun nights there, probably studying while drinking hot chocolate. (I'm not sure if The Core 4 and Kers' parents read my blog :)

Now for the real reason for this post:

Kingston took his first steps tonight!!! And his entire family was here to witness it! He walked from me to Nana a few times. Maybe 3-4 steps in a row, unassisted, before he collapsed or fell. We were so proud!! We will practice more tomorrow and I will attempt to get some steps on video. Stay tuned!

Granted, it probably didn't add up to a total of 23 steps, but give me credit for some creative titling, anyway, please. If you don't, it's just because you're jealous that you never went to 23 Steps. So there. My kid can walk.

Not Me Monday!

I'm jumping right in before I forget the "Not Me"s that I just thought of. If you're new here, I'll explain in a minute!

---I have NOT neglected and/or forgotten to post "Not Me Monday" for the past, say, 10 Mondays. I'm always SO on the ball.

---I have NOT given Kingston unwashed blueberries and strawberries in the grocery store the last 2 times we've been just to keep him quiet and not trying to get out of the cart. Gross. Who would do that? And I have definitely NOT started a new routine for shopping, and now he expects something sweet as soon as we get in the produce department. Good thinking, Mom!

---I would NEVER enjoy a day of working at a wedding expo all day, talking to a bunch of high-strung brides, simply because I got to do it without a toddler hanging on my leg. And my dear husband would NEVER be totally exhausted when I got home after spending the whole day in the house with Kingston. Us moms don't really work very hard. ALL we do is stay at home with a kid all day. That doesn't take ANY energy at all. Why would we be tired at the end of the day?

---I am NOT wondering if my kid will EVER walk.

---I did NOT nearly freak on Kingston yesterday when he dumped the dog's full water bowl over and then crawled through the said water. Did I mention that I wasn't trying to cook dinner at the time and that Nigel was officially "off duty" as soon as I got home? Right.

So those are my Not Me's for this fine Monday. If you don't know, Not Me Monday is "sponsored" by MckMama over on her blog, My Charming Kids. It is tons of fun to let it all out and tell all of my thousands of readers (giggle) what I didn't do this week (but that I might have done if I were to do such things). Go to MCK's and check out what other people didn't do. Or hey, get crazy and leave me a comment and tell me what you didn't do! Take a walk on the wild side! I mean, it is Monday. Go nuts.

Adventures in Self-Feeding

I've been trying to start giving/teaching Kingston a little more independence. Boy, is it messy!Who says you have to eat yogurt with a spoon?

Welcome to the world of self-feeding. Please leave your manners, utensils and washcloths at the door.

At least he's really enjoying himself. Even if it does take 15 minutes just to clean him up. I'm just trying to avoid the 7 year old who needs help feeding himself a bowl of cereal, ya know?