Ugh! That is how I feel. Whatever it is being blown wildly about in the air is fixin’ to kill me! (nice souther word that, fixin’ ha ha!) When we went to Abq last Wed, I was miserable too, but my mom gave me some allergy pills and it got better. Well on Saturday when we were driving home, the closer we got the “worser.” My eyes started burning, itching and watering, and my nose refused to work correctly, and my throat got all scratchy and the “seal” cough came back. 
Blah! So today whilst I have been washing 2 loads of laundry and 2 loads of dishes and cleaning up all the junk Qade threw on the floor at lunch time, I take frequent nose blowing and water drinking breaks. I sure hope that allergy season gets over FAST! If not I just may have to invest in a mask of some kind. 
Do they make those? Pollen masks? Someone should invent one.
Archive for March, 2008
Hay Fever
03.31
When the cat’s away…
03.30
We got home last night late. We had been in Albuquerque for a youth rally that Stuart and my brother put on. It was a flaming success and they had a great time! I had a good time visiting with family and stuff. Unfortunately I rashly decided to get a shorter haircut. Came away with a really awful hack job that is too short. I don’t like it at all, and all I can think of is how long it will take to grow out to even begin to look decent. Hmmmm…. guess it’s good I’m not too vane or I’d just walk around with a bag over my head for the next 6 months. *sigh* Moving on, while we were driving home Stuart and I discussed the lack of cat situation at our house. I really want to get one fast, as in TOMORROW so the mice don’t get comfy. We’re agreed on the need for a cat though so that’s good. However after we arrived home 10pmish we were unpacking stuff, getting Bubba to bed and all that when Stu informed me that there were 2 mice drowned in a bowl of water that we leave outside for the dog. GROSS!!! Man, Thomas has only been gone for about a week and already they are getting bold. I despise wild mice!! I actually had one for a pet once, not a wild mouse, but a petshop mouse, and he was great! Stunk to high heaven, but I liked him. But scampering nibbling, pooping, invading mice I do NOT like and will not tolerate! So this means war. I’m going to set some traps in case they have already invaded the house, and then when I go to town I’m going to get a cat!
Mommy’s day out
03.28
Well, today I’m going to take advantage of the grandparent factor and take the day “off.” 
Is that possible? Qade is one of my favorite people to hang out with all the time, BUT it would be nice to have a couple of hours all by me onesy. I think I’ll do a little shopping, and then maybe just crash at a coffee place and write. I’ve always liked to write and journal, but lately there always seems to be something else to do. My blog kind of doubles for it, but it’s still fun sometimes to just write with a pen on actual paper. Ha ha! Qade will have a fabulous time with grandma, and I know grandma will have a wonderful time with “her boy” too! My parents have totally taken over our child. This morning my dad was asking what I was doing to “their baby.” Ha ha! I suppose I knew it would happen. I mean, I enjoyed being spoiled by grandparents when I was growing up too. Qade has already figured out that he has his grandparents, aunts and uncles totally wrapped around his chubby little fingers. What’s more is he just loves it! Pretty funny! Well, I’m off to enjoy my day. Hope you all enjoy yours as well.
Final Farewell To Thomas
03.24
Some of you have read about our Thomas the cat saga from time to time. He was a stray cat who was living here when we arrived. He decided right away that we would be his family. Made himself quite at home too I might add. I wanted to keep him around because he was obviously a great hunter as evidenced by the shredded rat that he left on the porch. Anyway, Thomas’ paw was against every other creature except our dog Cisco. They found a truce early on in their relationship, the cat was the boss, and they got along great! I did have to kick Thomas out of the house because once Qade became mobile, the cat didn’t have much patience for him. I wasn’t willing to let Qade learn the hard way not to pull on tails. But Thomas liked it outside, he could fight to his heart’s content, and then if he had a rough night he’d come back to a nice bed, food and water out on the porch. From time to time he’d come back with war wounds, and I knew he was picking fights with things that had better be left alone. Most of the time, though, he was fine and back at it in a couple of days. Last week however, he came back looking worse than he ever looked. My amazingly brave sis-in-law was here visiting, and we attempted to clean him up. It was obvious that he’d been in a big row with a canine of some kind. We have coyotes and roaming dogs around here, so it had to be one of them. Thomas was in pretty bad shape. He was all infected and not very mobile. I was amazed that he made it home alive considering he had a bite mark on the back of his neck. He must have fought hard! Well, my mom-in-law wanted to take him to the vet so Friday we did, and the diagnosis was not good. She decided that the best thing to do would be to help Thomas out of his misery. It’s sad. He was my first cat, and I really did like him. Now that it’s warming up, the mice and snakes will be coming around, so his presence will be missed. We’re looking for another cat, but the memory of Thomas will stay with us.
Finger food and milk
03.23
Today for lunch Qade had viana sausage (cut in forths) and torn up cheese slices (he loves this!) a gerber wagon wheel, and real milk! It was a great finger food meal, and he did it himself! I think he enjoys the independence of eating on his own. I’m enjoying the independence too! I still feed him his baby food, or oatmeal and such from a spoon though… I’m not ready to turn that instrument over! It would be an enormous disaster. Qade is on the last itty bitty bit of his formula and then will be completely on milk! Yay! He’s becoming such a big boy! I know it’s “technically” a month early, but I’ve come to grips with the fact that I’m not always going to do everything by the Accociation of Pediatrics’ book.
Yesterday we ran to camp to get some stuff for the youth rally next week. There’s still snow in patches down there, but it was a BEAUTIFUL day! I found a dry spot and Qade and I played on the ground. I fully expected him to put everything he came across into his mouth like he does at the house. Oh no! He was totally taken aback by the “weird” textures of the grass and leaves under his hands. It was HILARIOUS to watch him crawl very slowly around trying to figure it all out. He did eventually taste test some leaves and a clump of dirt, but didn’t like either and only ended up with mud around his mouth. Ha ha ha! We had a great time! I know he’s going to have a blast at camp this summer. I’m sure he’ll get over the tentative-ness of dirt and come in each day looking like a ragamuffin. How fun!
Well Happy Easter to you all! We had special services this morning including a breakfast, so there is no evening service tonight. We’re going to use the time to have a family hike out in the beautiful sunshine! I just wish my allergies would go away so I could breathe without sneezing my lungs out!
Watching with your ears
03.18
Ever since we were little kids we’ve wondered how our moms always knew what we were doing, even with their back turned. It used to be blamed on the “eyes in the back of my head” but I always had my doubts about that. Now I know, IT’S A LIE! Mom’s don’t have eyes in the back of their head. However, something changes drastically about a mommies sense of hearing as soon as that lil baby pops out. We gain a bat like “radar” to any sound our child is making. Now that I’ve been a mommy for almost a year, I can be in a totally different room from Qade and still know what he’s doing. In fact the other day I stole a cat nap right on the floor while he was playing, but even while I was dozing my ears were “watching” him. If I heard a sound that was “new” my eyes popped right open. Weird! So the cat is out of the bag. You all thought your moms had an extra set of eyes, but they were really just watching you with their ears. It’s great that God gives us exactly what we need to be the best moms for out little ones. Happy listening!
Busy week
03.17
Well, it’s spring break here! Yay! That means that Stu gets to be at home!! His mom and sis are coming up today sometime, and then his dad will arrive on Wednesday. Should be a fun time. Sage will still be here, but there will be more hands to help with the regular stuff, so it should be an easier week on me too. I just love it when Stu can be around more. Summer camp is fun, but the downside is that we’re so busy that I feel like we hardly see each other. Last summer with a very new baby was rough! This summer though, with his schnazzy back pack and most likely walking feet, I think Qade will be able to be more involved too. He and I can help Daddy set up for games, and such. I’m looking forward to it!
Qade has started just in the past couple days, screaming for his food. This does NOT go over well with Mommy who thinks that manners can’t be taught early enough. He has learned the sign for “more,” but I always say “More, Please” so that he gets used to hearing that too. Now that I know he knows the sign, I’ve been a little more insistent that he use it especially since the screaming started. So this morning I got him up, happy head! He’s so chipper in the mornings! I put him in his seat and started fixing his formula/milk. I’m introducing him to whole milk now and after this can of formula is gone we will buy it no more- hurray! Anyway, he was perfectly fine till he saw the cup and then he started the screaming deal. So I asked him, “more please” so that he could nicely ask for his drink rather than scream. Do you think he was willing to do the simple sign? Oh no! He does have a stubborn streak. (wonder where he got that- hee hee) So I set the cup on the counter and went about making breakfast while he wailed and screached. Eventually he wound down and asked “more, please” and I eagerly gave him his sippy cup. Poor boy.:-) It’s hard to learn to be patient and not fuss, but I know he can, so I’m expecting him to. I want him to learn the sign for please, but it’s a little more difficult than more, so we’ll work on it little by little. The point is he needs to know how to “ask” nicely for things rather than crying for them.
Well, I’ve been in the “mood” for lasagna lately, but have been too lazy to make it. Now that we’re having company I believe I will tonight. I have all the “stuff” just haven’t put it together yet. I got these noodles that supposedly you don’t have to cook before you use them in the lasagna, but I’ve never used them before, so I’m slightly nervous that they won’t “cook” right and we’ll have chewy noodles. I’m sure it won’t be that bad though or else they wouldn’t keep selling them. Oh and just an aside, I hate cooking and baking in a gas stove.:-( I really hate the smell, and the temps never seem to be quite right. I have to bake things at least 25* lower than what it calls for, and take it out at the earliest time if not before or it will be overdone. Hmmmm…. maybe I just don’t know the knack of it yet. Well, have a happy St. Patrick’s Day. Hope you don’t get pinched.:-)
Hurray for solid poop!
03.15
Is it taboo to talk about baby poop on a blog? My dad would say absolutely yes! He always jumps off the phone and dives for cover if he says the conversation is turning towards baby poop. But when you’re a new mom that’s one of the things that comprise your life! Anyway, if you’re grossed out you don’t have to read, but I’m just excited that Qade has had 2 days of “normal” poopies. That comes after nearly a week of diarrhea. I just couldn’t figure out what the problem was. No fever, no new teeth, no yucky nose. Just icky diapers. So I put him on the BRAT diet which is bananas, rice, apples(sauce) and toast. I didn’t actually give him toast though, I used saltine crackers instead. I stopped giving him juice in the afternoon and gave him pedialite instead. He actually drank and enjoyed it this time! Apparently it has worked or he’s just through whatever it was that bugged him. Thankfully!! A couple of those diapers I thought were going to “dun me in.” Blah! I wasn’t terribly worried about him being “sick” as he had no other symptoms, and I knew he wasn’t dehydrated because of the copious amounts of drool he was leaving everywhere. Still it does take a load off to have the “issue” resolved.:-)
Today is a LAZY Saturday as far as I’m concerned. I believer I’ll try to take a walk, or maybe we’ll hike somewhere with Bubba in his backpack, but I’m not going to try to “do” anything.:-) Ahhhhhh, bliss! I love the weekends! Especially a weekend before spring break! And I’m not going to have Sage till Tuesday, so that helps me relax even more! Ta ta friends!
Black birds and imaginary buddies
03.13
Hello friends! Today’s post it just a bunch of random thoughts. The other day I was listening to the flock of black birds in our trees and they sound so pretty and melodic, and then a little later I heard several crows in another group of trees start cackling. They do NOT sound sweet or melodic. I don’t know why, but it just struck me as strange that even though they are both birds, both black and both have voices, there’s a world of difference in their song. You can philosophize that if you’d like to, I don’t think I’ll take the time right now.
Qade has been hilarious in his antics lately. He now has an “imaginary friend” in the glass doors of the fireplace. I don’t know if he realizes it’s his reflection or not, but at least once a day he goes up to his “buddy” and has a little conversation. Sometimes he even gets a kiss. It’s funny! Another thing that Qade is becoming quite good at is banging his head on walls or the floor. Have any of you experienced this with your children? Sometimes he’ll be sitting with his back against the wall and he’ll just tap, tap, tap the back of his head against it. Other times it’s full on head butts on the wall or the floor. He was doing this last night, and I was laughing at him. I couldn’t figure out if he was just overly tired, bored, or just needing some extra attention. It’s not like a habit that he does frequently, just now and then. I haven’t figured this one out.
Today is lime green Thursday, and I’m not wearing lime green. It’s not because I don’t have spirit, it’s just because I don’t have any lime right now. However, that problem will be solved by this summer. I just couldn’t go through camp without celebrating lime green Thursday. I was checking Qade’s wardrobe the other day to see if he would have any lime green for the summer, and sure enough he has at least 2 shirts that will work. It’ll be a blast! Stuart actually has been much more consistent about carrying on the lime green tradition. Well, better go. I think there’s some work that needs to be done in Bubba’s closet. Have a wonderful day!
Done Shoppin’
03.11
Some of you may know that I’ve been working on getting the merchandise ordered for Camp on Wheel’s General store. It’s been a bit of a thorn in my flesh just because the original idea had to go through quite a few restructurizations before it was FINALLY ready for an order. But it has been done and it’s all ordered and paid for! Whew! Load off of me! We’re going to have a really cool latte mug this year that I just know I’ll have to get one. We also designed several cool shirts (one camo one for the new paint ball activity is going to be really popular, I can just tell) and a hooded sweatshirt. My amazingly graphically talented hubby helped with that part. It’s going to be great! I can hardly wait for camp. Here it is March though, it’ll be here before we know it! So that’s what I spent part of my day on. I’ve also been working on getting a piano lesson ready. When I was going through all the “stuff” it really made me miss teaching lessons. Stuart is teaching this cute little gal piano. She’s had one lesson already, and today is supposed to be here again. Maybe someday I can pick it back up, but for now I’m too busy with my bubby. Stu’s sis and our nephew are spending the night here tonight! We’re excited to see them! Toodles!