Saturday, March 27, 2010

So...where's the good Easter Bunny?

There must be one...right?

I'm contemplating sending KIVI (channel 6) a nastygram for false advertisement. It's through them that I learned of the Easter Bunny at Zoo Boise and the commercial they ran showed this beautifully decorated area with a really nice bunny...okay, first of all - the zoo was PACKED. We drove around for about 15 minutes before we found a spot at the other end of Julia Davis park. We hiked over to the zoo, paid our entrance fee and weaved through the crowd to the area on the map where the Bunny Photo Op was supposed to be. We got there and see nothing. So we figured the bunny was on break and wandered around the zoo, checking out other areas and watching Ben people watch (he didn't care at all about the animals (not surprised) but was very interested in what other people were doing). We wandered back over to the bunny area several times and never found anything. I went off to go change Ben's diaper (only to discover that the bathroom I was in didn't have a baby changing station - seriously? at a zoo? a place that appeals to children?) and when I got back Nick found where the bunny was. The bunny was in some little hut type thing with a tiny sign on the door saying "Bunny Photo Op"...it was way lame. It was just the Easter Bunny sitting in a corner. No beautifully decorated area.

On Friday we did go to the mall and did have Ben sit with the Easter Bunny there. I just don't care for the pictures. The bunny isn't a very good one. But (that's me shrugging) oh well. I wanted Ben to have pictures with the Easter Bunny and I have some...I just don't care for them.

So, I want to know from my other parent friends: is this normal? I've never done this before (the Easter Bunny scares the crap out of me...I made Nick hand Ben over to him at the mall) so I have no idea. Is it always kind of lame? Is there no beautifully decorated place with a pretty Easter Bunny?

Friday, March 26, 2010

See? I don't spend all my time on FB

Some cards I made but haven't sent to anyone yet:

A card I made that will go out in the mail tomorrow:

My very first cinnamon rolls:
The candy I made Susan:
see? I do other stuff than play on FB....

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

No Creative Title

My brain just can't come up with something funny, clever or witty at the moment. And "Another Update" is just well...blah.

Anyway - greatest news! As I may have mentioned before, Nick's brother Rob and his wife, Tara, are expecting their second baby this fall. Tara found out today that they're having a girl! The first Beesley daughter in who knows how long. I'm excited - I simply adore baby clothes and baby girls clothes are so much more fun to shop for than baby boy clothes (although...several of my friends have recently had girls and I find myself stocking up on stuff for Ben when I go shopping for girl things specifically...hmm...).

I also mentioned in previous posts that I'd hoped to have more creative driven posts for you to ponder in the future. I have been a bit crafty: I've done a St. Paddy's Day shoot with Ben where I made the little sign I posed him with; I've made (and sent off) a few cards; baked a bunch and worked on Ben's baby book some more. I just sent Susan off a box of home made goodies (some of the Peanut Butter Blossoms from my prior post and then a surprise...I'll share it with you after she gets the box - I took pictures like the twit that I am).

I ventured out of the house last week and did something characteristically un-Sarah. I was invited to play Bunco by a girl I'd met twice with a bunch of other women I'd met maybe once or twice before. I almost said no and then I said to Nick "I'm such a brat - I sit here and complain that I don't know many people since we moved here and then I get the opportunity to go do something and meet new people and my first reaction is to say 'no'" - so I went. It helped that Tiffany was going as well - and while we aren't like bestie best friends, I know her significantly better than any one else there. And you know what? I had a great time. It's a really lovely group of women...plus I won. If you know me, you know how much I love to win. HA!! I did have a good time and I hope I get the chance to go again.

I've been meaning to go check out this New Mom's Group that St Lukes offers for free. They offer it weekly at the St Lukes by my house and I thought I'd go today. I didn't. I made a lame excuse to myself and didn't go. I'm going to go next week. FOR. SURE.

I also want to locate my sewing machine, fix it if it really is broken (and I think it is) and then re-learn how to use it (there's a class at JoAnne's for free for this!). I have a project I want to do for a specific baby girl that's being born in Florida in October and if I start it now, I just might actually get it accomplished by the time she's born (there's also a free class at JoAnne's for the project I want to do!). We'll see.

Can't say I'm missing work really at all. I wondered if I would. I do get bored, when Ben is sleeping. I find myself spending entirely too much time in front of my computer, waiting for Facebook to update. I should take advantage of the time Ben is asleep or playing by himself (like now, for example) and do things around the house. The problem I'm having, though, is that every time I start a chore, I think of all the things I want to do around the house that we no longer really have the money to do. Last week I did go in for about 3 hours every day (brought Ben with me) to help out since one of the ladies was out of the office. It was nice to get out of the house and actually do something and I'll really enjoy the money but... :-) Can't lie and say I missed it or was sad when the week was up!! :-p

So what's new with Ben? Not too much since the last time I posted. He's a talker and is getting louder and experimenting more with his sounds. He's really discovered his hands and you'll probably find them in his mouth. Or anything he can maneuver into his mouth. I feel like I should be doing something to teach him something. I know that he needs the time to play and observe on his own, but I feel like I should also be spending time teaching him things. I'm not sure what that is... He eats like, nonstop recently during the day. I swear he eats about every 45 minutes to an hour if he's not napping. Nights are getting better - he usually has 2 feedings after he's down for the night: one around midnight or so and the other around 3:00 or 4:00 and then he's up for the day around 7:00 or 8:00. I'd sure like to get rid of one of those feedings...all in due time, I know. I'm way excited to start feeding him food other than milk or formula. Not that I'm in any rush to stop nursing, I'm just excited for him to experience new tastes and textures.

Well, I thought I had more but I can't think of it now. It'll probably come to me after I hit "publish post" in the blog...

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Peanut Butter Blossoms


mmmm. Made these for Bunco tonight and I think they were a hit. I know they're a hit with Nick!

Ingredients:

  • 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter (I used regular ol' Skippy Creamy)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Granulated sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.

2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 4 dozen cookies.

Lust

want:



http://www.cricut.com/shop/#0/1/191/5/Cricut/Cricut%20Create%20Machine

Does anyone have a Cricut I could borrow?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Umm.....yeeeeeaaaaahhhh....

Tomorrow is St. Paddy's Day! Wear green, lest you get pinched!

I had another little mini photoshoot for Ben and took some Irishy pictures for cards which I delayed mailing until yesterday....whoooooops. I didn't do it on purpose - they were supposed to go in the mail Friday but I just sort of...well, I forgot about them to be perfectly honest.

Anyway, not much exciting for the Beesley's of Idaho. Friday afternoon, my mom took me out to Boise's expansive (<--that would be in sarcastic font if I had one) outlet malls and bought a ton of uber cute baby clothes. I love baby clothes. That evening we had Hannah over night so Connor could celebrate his birthday party without girls (other than his mom, but she doesn't count since she pays :-p). Saturday we took Hannah to lunch and dropped her off at home.

Monday I went back to work for a few hours. Amy is out of the office most of this week so I went in to help out. I'm worked about 3 hours every day so far and will do that for the rest of the week. I've brought Ben with me for about half the time I'm there, and then Nick takes him home for some male bonding. It's been nice to get out of the house and do something other than housework, nursing and diaper changing - but I love, LOVE coming and going as I please and knowing that I don't have to go in if I don't feel like it. The extra money will be nice to have, too.

Battling a cold this week. I'm not totally sure where I got it (I don't see anyone!) but I think it might have been via Hannah. She was coughing a bit while she was here and sounded a little stuffed up - but that just might be allergies so I don't want to get all dramatic and point a finger shouting "IT WAS HER!!!!" In any case, it doesn't matter - I'm sick. I called the doc this morning and she said I could take Muscinex and Benadryl to feel better so I promptly popped a Muscinex and I already feel a lot better. I'm still way stuffed up and congested but I can actually breathe. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Ben doesn't get it! We're 3 months in and no sicknesses yet. :-)

Susan's probably coming out to visit sooner than we thought. We originally planned for her to come out in June so we could go see the 3rd Twilight movie, Eclipse, but we're thinking she should come out earlier. She so might come next month if she can get the time off and find an affordable flight out. I'm bummed that we don't get to see the movie together (sorry, Nick...you'll just have to take me...I know how much you LOVE those movies) but I'm WAY excited to see her and for her to meet Ben.

Ben's quite the chatterbox recently. He gurgles and goos and squeals and well it's just insanely cute and I keep taking video after video. I think the only people other than us that will never tire of his extreme adorableness are his nana's. Every one else will shortly roll their eyes and think "ANOTHER jabbering movie?!?!?!" :-p

He's starting to laugh a little. Not often but a few times over the last few days we've gotten actual laughs out of him and it's well, to repeat myself: extremely adorable. He's really into being bounced on our knees. It completely cracks him up. He's big enough now that he can face out in his carrier so instead of strapping him in his car seat and sticking that in his stroller so he can fall asleep before we got around the block, I put him in the carrier facing out for our walk today. He stayed awake for the whole walk! He's also tried out the Exersaucer dealie a few times. On the shortest setting, his feet just barely touch the bottom and he needs 100% focused supervision on it so he doesn't smack his little face on any of the toys but I think he enjoys it. He's bounced a few times, which both surprised and delighted him. I see one of those jumping chair bouncy dealies in his future (that's a technical term, FYI).

Nick started class back up this week. Boooo. Thankfully, we've gotten a break of his over a year of Saturday classes. This quarter he's going Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday but the Thursday class he actually takes online so he only has to leave two nights a week. That's a relief for both of us...well, all THREE of us really!

Here's Nick's forced contribution (imagine a 20 minute delay - lots of "ummm"ing and facial hair pulling...geez, I'm only asking him to BLOG not to come up with a solution to world hunger...): At work we're starting development on a new module for our management system. It's regarding basically the hatching and release of the salmon eggs. We're thinking about doing planter boxes with vegetables such as the Iraq and maps. No, really. Peppers, cucumbers, radishes, perhaps some herbs. We want to rip up most of the deck and do some sort of rocked patio. Yay.

Back to me writing now. I entered Ben in this silly cutest kid contest that the local paper was putting on. I had no hopes of really winning, it was more for the fun of doing it and showing strangers how adorable my son is. :-) The first place prize was a $500 photo session package thing which reminded me that I've neglected to look into getting some one with experience to take Ben's picture (well, okay. "neglected" is the wrong term. I looked at it right after he was born and went into SHOCK at the prices, quickly closed my browser and shoved that thought out of my mind). It'd be nice to have something professional and edited of the three of us as well. I want some unique to us - I don't want anything really too "traditional" as far as the photos go - I don't want to get the same picture that every one with a kid gets taken. I want something new and well, us. I've looked at a few places online and mostly my jaw keeps hitting the floor at the prices of professional photos. There's this one thing I want to do, I think it's such a great idea and if I'm going to do it, I need to get a move on. It's a 3 step picture process thing. They take pictures now, at 6-8 months and then at a year. I'm sure you pay for each step separately but I have no idea how much something like that costs. I wish I could convince myself that it's okay to whip out the plastic for stuff like that but I'm trying to pay down my debt, not incur more. Oh well. I'll keep dreaming, maybe I can get something done with this little bitty paycheck I'm going to get for this weeks worth of work. We'll see!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Randoms

Here are some random things about us that I know your life will be so much better once you know them. :-p

Let's see, where to start. Last time I blogged, I told you how our friends had just had a baby. We got to visit little Ariana in the hospital and she is a little cutie. I can't get over her coloring (her mama and papa are Italian) - she's so dark compared to my lil Casper:


Later that day, we went to Hannah's school to watch her choir program. They sung about Besty Ross and Abe Lincoln, etc. It was a really cute program. The next day, we snuck over to Tiffany & Victors house early to play welcome wagon to greet the new family when they got home. Along with our decorations, we left some of our yummy tortellini soup and bread.

I've been thinking a lot lately about babies and birth and after birth care and I think I want to maybe do something related to that. Not like a nurse or a midwife or a doula but something similar to that...I'm not sure what it would be or if something like what I'm thinking even exists. I know none of this paragraph really makes any sense - I haven't made sense of it myself yet. I know that I have a lot of friends that either just had babies or are about to have babies and I like knowing that I answered some of their fears and maybe made things a little easier. It would be awesome to be able to do that more often for some one that maybe doesn't have the best support system at home.

In other news - on to some good for my parents finally. My dad was offered and he accepted a job for another company. This means regular pay for them and I know it's lessened a lot of stress they were under. Unfortunately, my parents also lost one of their dogs last night. She was a bit old for a lab (11) and in poor health. They did the right thing but I can't even begin to imagine having to do it. I look at Sadie and realize she's getting older and this is a harsh reality that we'll have to face. I'm not sure I'll get another dog....it's just too hard and 11 years isn't a very long time in the scheme of things.

My nephew turns 12 on Wednesday. I really can't believe it. I can't believe it was 12 years ago that he was born. Time goes so incredibly fast. So fast. And now I look at Ben and realize I truly have to cherish every single moment because in a blink of an eye, HE'LL be 12 and I'll be wondering where that time went (and Connor will be 24 - HOLY CRAP).

I'm having such fun embellishing Ben's baby book that I've decided to give doing a scrapbook for him another try. I went out and bought a smaller book - the 12x12 pages are just too intimidating (for me) to fill up. So maybe I'll be more successful with a smaller page. I've also been thinking of hosting some sort of scrapbooking party but I'm not sure how to do it or if anyone would be interested in coming to it.

I have an incredible need to buy Ben clothes. :-p I need a new second hand shop - my favorite place doesn't have much for baby boys. But in related ramblings - I was way bummed to discover last night that Ben's outgrown one of my favorite sleepers. It totally made my day when I went into my favorite second hand shop and found my favorite sleeper in a 6 month size and for only $1.95. SCORE!

Well, that's it for my random ramblings for now.


Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Can't Sleep. Solution? Middle Of The Night Blogging.

Today was a great day in Idaho! All sorts of fantastic happenings - small things, like I finally ordered that camcorder I've been eyeing and big things, like my dad was offered a job (HALLELUJAH!) and Victor & Tiffany greeted their little girl today. A pretty good day in Idaho indeed!

Some random updates on Ben (these things were scrolling through my mind as I laid in bed, attempting to sleep...let's see if I can capture any here):

Ben is filling out his clothes rapidly. He's tall (long? ha ha) for his age. He's 4 months behind one of my friends from high schools son and only 2 inches shorter. Good grief. As a result, some of his clothes fit him weird. Baggy around the middles but perfect in length. Those that fit around the middle are typically too short.

He's on the move a lot more. Kicks and wiggles with excitement (you should see him when I strip him nekkid), he's beginning to play more with his toys. He's holding his head up a lot now, looking around at our house and seeing all that there is to see. I catch him watching TV now and then, absolutely fascinated by what's going on.

He rolled over from his tummy to his back once or twice - I think it was on accident but still. He did it. Speaking of tummy time - not his favorite. He'll lay there for awhile but mostly I think it bugs him because he can't really see much. He's starting to do little mini pushups, though, when you lay him on his tummy.

Another thing he doesn't really like is the swing. I'm not sure why, but it mostly just pisses him off when we set him in there. He loves the play pen - but that's mostly because that's where the hippos are (little bar-mobile-type-thing that hangs over it) and the hippos are his friends.

He loves it when we play with his face. Stroking his cheeks and forehead and booping him on the nose. When he's especially happy he "hoo"s over and over like a little tiny owl. It's the cutest thing.

He's begun to cry when things startle him. Not just the startle reflex of throwing out all the limbs like he's about to catch himself (which always makes me laugh because #1 it's cute and #2 he's never fallen) but now his little face crumples up and his cries. It's the saddest thing ever and I hate it when he makes that face.

Sleeping is much improved. We have a pretty solid night time routine now. He's usually down for the night by 9:00 and up between 1:00 and 2:00 for a feeding, then again some time around 4:00ish and then he's up for the day usually by 7:00. He plays in his play yard while I have my first cuppa and play on FB. Then he poops, we get changed, eat and nap. That's about it for the routine for the day, though. After that, it's all on him and his mood. We have a bath every other night and they're getting better. I think I must be one of the rare mom's with a baby who doesn't care for baths. Recently, I've been rewarded with HUGE grins when I shut the water off and stand up. That means bath time is over and that makes his day. :-)

Nick asked me if it felt "real" yet. I said "nope" and it doesn't. I mean, he's my baby and I love every little bit of him, from his gorgeous blue eyes down to his crooked little butt crack. It breaks my heart when he cries and I'll come running to save him when he wakes up scared. But it feels surreal still. A bit...like...okay, when am I going to wake up? Kind of deal. I don't think it'll feel "real" til we have our first scare - which I hope we never have.

Can't believe he's almost 3 months old. He'll be walking and talking, sassing and getting in trouble, scraping knees and breaking hearts before you know it. I'm at war with myself - I can't wait for him to get big enough to sit on his own so we can put him in the grocery cart (our car seat doesn't fit on top of the carts so I strap him in to our carrier when we go) and for when he can entertain himself for bigger chunks of time. But on the other hand...I want him little forever, so I can cuddle and snuggle and never have one of those hearts he'll break be mine.