Andi's been working crazy long hours and my belly is full of baby boy (meaning, I'm getting to that point in pregnancy where I'm just not hungry), so I haven't been in the mood to cook much these days. But when I have been in the kitchen, I've embraced cozy fall meals with some hits and misses. Here's what we've eating these days:
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Stew
I ... didn't like this recipe much. It was easy to throw together and I had most of the ingredients on hand already, so those kind of recipes always earn points in my book. However as stated, the stew ended up being very salty (and I even left out the chicken bouillon, adding half chicken broth / half water instead). It was a bit of vegetable overload as well with the fresh celery, carrots AND the frozen mixed vegetables together. Definitely edible, but I wouldn't crave to make it again. Rating: C
Stove-Top Chili
Though this recipe could've been made in a slow cooker, I made it one Sunday afternoon on the stove in a Dutch oven. Easy to make; most of the ingredients I had on hand and I thought it was flavorful. Leftovers were great, too. If you don't like spicy chili (though I'm a bit of wimp when it comes to ranking 'spicy,' so take this with a grain of salt), cut back on the amount of chili powder. I made the recipe as directed and it had a bit of a kick. Rating: A
Crock-Pot Oatmeal
I made this recipe one weekend at the cabin and I'm not sure what happened but ... it did not turn out. Like, burnt into the bottom of the cooker and completely inedible. Bummer. I followed the recipe directions as stated. Luckily, my lovely husband swung into action and made Tory and I waffles for breakfast instead. Rating: F
Turkey Chili with Apples
Apparently all I seem to be hungry for lately is chili. I think it's because Andi's been working quite a bit and it makes great leftovers. I tried this turkey chili recipes and, whoa, it was HOT. Spicy hot, like choke and spit out the bite hot. I mostly followed the directions, except I actually cut back on the amount of chipolte peppers in adobo sauce called for in the recipe. Also, I think ground turkey has a weird texture. I know it's healthier and that's why I always want to make recipes that call for it, but it's never as good as I hope it to be. The crunchy apples were a nice touch. Rating: B (if you cut waaay back on the spice factor).
Turkey Mini Meatloaves
Again with the turkey alternative to ground beef ... these mini meatloves were easy to toss together and were actually delicious. Tory, Andi and I all gobbled them up. *Note the recipe only makes about 2-3 adult servings. Rating: A
Smothered Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms
This recipe was super yummy and easy to make, too. Over dinner Andi said to me, "This kinda looked gross when you were making it, but it actually tastes really good." Um, thanks? Rating: A
Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel Topping
I think I mentioned these muffins in another blog post about cooking with Tory, but I'd recommend this recipe. In fact, the muffins lasted about three days at our house; Tory just ate them right up. Maybe not the healthiest of muffin recipes, but they were moist and flavorful without being over the top. Rating: A
Carrot Oatmeal Muffins
On the other hand, these muffins were too dense and almost sticky-like. They contained a lot of fruits and veggies, but not really worth it when I couldn't get Tory to eat them. Rating: C
Pumpkin Cinnamon Applesauce
One of the items on my fall bucket list was to make homemade applesauce with Tory. I chose this recipe to use up some of the pureed pumpkin I bought for other recipes. This particular one wasn't a slow cooker recipe; I made it on the stove top and it was fairly simple to throw together. The applesauce turned out very, very sweet though and Tory didn't seem to care for it. I thought it was okay. Rating: C
Any other tasty fall recipes out there I should try?
Friday, October 11, 2013
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
A Baby Boy's Rustic Nursery
When I think about my dream baby's nursery, two versions come to mind:
For a girl ... soft, tranquil, girly; lavender walls with white accents.
For a boy ... muted walls and calming colors; a soothing space with a manly presence.
******
When preparing for Tory's arrival two years ago, I created my perfect version of a baby girl's nursery. Newborn babies don't care much about their surroundings but I spent countless hours in her room, rocking my baby girl to sleep, changing her diaper and folding her adorably tiny clothes. I wanted a space I felt comfortable spending time in, as well as one fit for a baby girl. To this day, I love spending time in Tory's room. I'm not one for traditional baby "theme" decor so with a few simple changes, I've been able to transition Tory's original lavender nursery into one for a toddler girl. (More about Tory's updated "big girl bedroom" in another post).
So, when designing our baby boy's nursery, I knew I wanted to decorate in the same vein. I envisioned a calm space where I'd spend time rocking my baby boy and one he'd also be able to grow into over the years. When I came across the idea of a rustic nursery, I knew it'd be just perfect for our boy. The trick was to decorate a space that felt rustic without feeling too "cabin-y." I didn't want red and black checkered plaid, for example, or a room that felt like it was ripped from an "up north" catalogue.
Like most decorating projects we do together, Andi and I brainstormed ideas for Aden's nursery and settled on some key design pieces fairly quickly. I searched for crib bedding with colors to tie the room together and initially, I couldn't find much for boys' rooms that wasn't transportation-themed, nautical-themed or animal-themed. Then, I saw this crib sheet from Aden + Anais and thought it was perfect. We chose to paint the walls Ashen Gray (which is the wall color in our master bedroom and I love it) and accented the nursery with dark red and light blue colors as per the circle medallions printed on the crib sheet. We're using the dark wooden crib and changing table previously purchased for Tory.
I knew I wanted one main focal piece in Aden's room to be hung above his crib. And, I knew I wanted it to either include pictures or our baby boy's name (there's perks to selecting a name before the baby arrives)! So, Andi commissioned one of his employees who's a woodsmith to custom-create a name plaque. The sign is made from wood, stained with Aden's name on it and has a blue metal star in the top corner. I absolutely love it. The name sign gives a powerful presence to the room, and it's so classic at the same time. It's exactly what I pictured when I envisioned a rustic baby boy's room.
I also made a mobile to hang on the left side of the name plaque above the baby's crib. Now, truth be told, Andi wasn't crazy about having a mobile of any sort in the nursery. I'm not sure why exactly. But when I saw this star mobile online, I knew I had to have it. I was just about ready to click "purchase" one day when I noticed the mobile was made of paper. FOR FIFTY DOLLARS. Um, no. I decided to try my hand at making a version of the star mobile myself. I bought an embroidery hoop for $.99, a roll of white string for $5 and a paper star punch for $13. I used the center ring of the embroidery hoop (the one without the metal clasp on it) and hot-glued white cardstock stars to string hanging from the hoop. Once the mobile was hung from the ceiling, I snipped the star strands at various lengths to give the mobile some dimension. I am so pleased with the way it turned out and love how it ties nicely to the rustic metal star on the name sign.
As an infant, Tory made quite the beaver marks by chewing on the crib rails with her teeth so I also made crib rail protectors from fleece (like I did for Tory; albeit, after the damage had already been done to the crib). I bought two yards of fabric and measured it against the front and sides of the crib. Then, I used the same method as a "tie blanket" by tying strips of the fleece around the rails. The red fleece looks brighter than it really is in these photos. Its dark red color matches the crib sheet's medallion pattern.
While searching for nursery inspiration, I stumbled across this saying: "Let Him Sleep; For When He Wakes, He Will Move Mountains" and it nearly brought me to tears. Maybe it's something about having a son, or a feeling of pride only a mother can feel from her unborn baby, but I know Aden will do great things in his life. I wanted this saying to be displayed in his room somewhere, so Andi had one of his graphic designers at work create a custom canvas sign for us.
Also on the changing table is a brown/silver table lamp, a basket to hold diapers, wipes and ointment and Aden + Anais changing pad cover matching the crib sheet.
Finally, to the left of the changing table are three stuffed animal heads hung on the wall. I originally saw these online, but they were too expensive to justify purchasing ($45 for one animal wall plaque). Then a few weekends ago when we were browsing a local shop by the cabin, I spotted these stuffed animals for 1/3 of the cost. Plus, I feel much better about supporting a locally-owned store by the cabin than a bigger online retail store. Hanging stuffed animal taxidermy in a baby boy's nursery might not be everyone cup of tea but every time I see them, they make me smile. They're pretty stinkin' cute. I also displayed Aden's baby book (a gift from my friend Ashley) and a light-blue framed photograph of the baby's sonogram on the floating shelf. I'm sure the contents of this shelf will evolve over time as Aden receives more gifts for his birth and baptism.
The only item missing from the nursery is a rustic red wooden growth chart (similar here). A friend of mine makes wooden growth charts as a side business and Andi's parents are gifting one to Aden for Christmas. It'll hang on the wall left of the doorway (not pictured).
I am so pleased with the way Aden's nursery came together. I think it's the perfect representation of the "rustic boy's nursery" I envisioned. His room is a bit on the small side, so the only thing I may do differently is add our existing glider into the nursery at some point. Spacing is a bit tight with it in the room, so I have the rocker in the living room for now.
The only thing to do now is welcome home our beautiful baby boy... and the countdown is on with only thirty-ish days to go!
For a girl ... soft, tranquil, girly; lavender walls with white accents.
For a boy ... muted walls and calming colors; a soothing space with a manly presence.
******
When preparing for Tory's arrival two years ago, I created my perfect version of a baby girl's nursery. Newborn babies don't care much about their surroundings but I spent countless hours in her room, rocking my baby girl to sleep, changing her diaper and folding her adorably tiny clothes. I wanted a space I felt comfortable spending time in, as well as one fit for a baby girl. To this day, I love spending time in Tory's room. I'm not one for traditional baby "theme" decor so with a few simple changes, I've been able to transition Tory's original lavender nursery into one for a toddler girl. (More about Tory's updated "big girl bedroom" in another post).
So, when designing our baby boy's nursery, I knew I wanted to decorate in the same vein. I envisioned a calm space where I'd spend time rocking my baby boy and one he'd also be able to grow into over the years. When I came across the idea of a rustic nursery, I knew it'd be just perfect for our boy. The trick was to decorate a space that felt rustic without feeling too "cabin-y." I didn't want red and black checkered plaid, for example, or a room that felt like it was ripped from an "up north" catalogue.
Like most decorating projects we do together, Andi and I brainstormed ideas for Aden's nursery and settled on some key design pieces fairly quickly. I searched for crib bedding with colors to tie the room together and initially, I couldn't find much for boys' rooms that wasn't transportation-themed, nautical-themed or animal-themed. Then, I saw this crib sheet from Aden + Anais and thought it was perfect. We chose to paint the walls Ashen Gray (which is the wall color in our master bedroom and I love it) and accented the nursery with dark red and light blue colors as per the circle medallions printed on the crib sheet. We're using the dark wooden crib and changing table previously purchased for Tory.
I knew I wanted one main focal piece in Aden's room to be hung above his crib. And, I knew I wanted it to either include pictures or our baby boy's name (there's perks to selecting a name before the baby arrives)! So, Andi commissioned one of his employees who's a woodsmith to custom-create a name plaque. The sign is made from wood, stained with Aden's name on it and has a blue metal star in the top corner. I absolutely love it. The name sign gives a powerful presence to the room, and it's so classic at the same time. It's exactly what I pictured when I envisioned a rustic baby boy's room.
I also made a mobile to hang on the left side of the name plaque above the baby's crib. Now, truth be told, Andi wasn't crazy about having a mobile of any sort in the nursery. I'm not sure why exactly. But when I saw this star mobile online, I knew I had to have it. I was just about ready to click "purchase" one day when I noticed the mobile was made of paper. FOR FIFTY DOLLARS. Um, no. I decided to try my hand at making a version of the star mobile myself. I bought an embroidery hoop for $.99, a roll of white string for $5 and a paper star punch for $13. I used the center ring of the embroidery hoop (the one without the metal clasp on it) and hot-glued white cardstock stars to string hanging from the hoop. Once the mobile was hung from the ceiling, I snipped the star strands at various lengths to give the mobile some dimension. I am so pleased with the way it turned out and love how it ties nicely to the rustic metal star on the name sign.
As an infant, Tory made quite the beaver marks by chewing on the crib rails with her teeth so I also made crib rail protectors from fleece (like I did for Tory; albeit, after the damage had already been done to the crib). I bought two yards of fabric and measured it against the front and sides of the crib. Then, I used the same method as a "tie blanket" by tying strips of the fleece around the rails. The red fleece looks brighter than it really is in these photos. Its dark red color matches the crib sheet's medallion pattern.
While searching for nursery inspiration, I stumbled across this saying: "Let Him Sleep; For When He Wakes, He Will Move Mountains" and it nearly brought me to tears. Maybe it's something about having a son, or a feeling of pride only a mother can feel from her unborn baby, but I know Aden will do great things in his life. I wanted this saying to be displayed in his room somewhere, so Andi had one of his graphic designers at work create a custom canvas sign for us.
Also on the changing table is a brown/silver table lamp, a basket to hold diapers, wipes and ointment and Aden + Anais changing pad cover matching the crib sheet.
Finally, to the left of the changing table are three stuffed animal heads hung on the wall. I originally saw these online, but they were too expensive to justify purchasing ($45 for one animal wall plaque). Then a few weekends ago when we were browsing a local shop by the cabin, I spotted these stuffed animals for 1/3 of the cost. Plus, I feel much better about supporting a locally-owned store by the cabin than a bigger online retail store. Hanging stuffed animal taxidermy in a baby boy's nursery might not be everyone cup of tea but every time I see them, they make me smile. They're pretty stinkin' cute. I also displayed Aden's baby book (a gift from my friend Ashley) and a light-blue framed photograph of the baby's sonogram on the floating shelf. I'm sure the contents of this shelf will evolve over time as Aden receives more gifts for his birth and baptism.
The only item missing from the nursery is a rustic red wooden growth chart (similar here). A friend of mine makes wooden growth charts as a side business and Andi's parents are gifting one to Aden for Christmas. It'll hang on the wall left of the doorway (not pictured).
I am so pleased with the way Aden's nursery came together. I think it's the perfect representation of the "rustic boy's nursery" I envisioned. His room is a bit on the small side, so the only thing I may do differently is add our existing glider into the nursery at some point. Spacing is a bit tight with it in the room, so I have the rocker in the living room for now.
The only thing to do now is welcome home our beautiful baby boy... and the countdown is on with only thirty-ish days to go!
Monday, October 7, 2013
A Memorable Cabin Weekend
First things first -- we're officially cabin owners! After renting our Pipe Lake cabin for the last three years, Andi and I decided to take the plunge and purchase the place as our own. We both love it so much; it's our little slice of paradise and our favorite place to spend time together as a family. Renting was a chance to test the waters with "cabin life" and now we're excited to make this place our own with our own decorating touches and many memories to come.
After the closing Friday afternoon, Andi, Tory and I celebrated with dinner at Hilltop Retreat. We toasted over drinks (a Wisconsin-style Old-Fashioned for him; O'Douls for her) and a tasty dinner.
We're either adjusting to the crazy of dining out with Tory, or eating in a restaurant with her is becoming slightly easier because we actually had a nice night out together. It helps that Hilltop has a salad bar so we can serve Tory instanteous plates of crackers, cottage cheese and pudding. Though now I reflect back on the evening, I think we are adjusted to the chaos as there was a fair share of pudding smeared all over the table and about 15 trips to the bathroom so Tory could potty (read: make a mess playing in the bathroom sink). Joe, Lisa, Morgan and McCall (the previous cabin owners) stopped by the cabin later in the evening for a celebritory cocktail after Tory was asleep.
Andi and I are really excited about our big cabin purchase. It really does feel like a second home to us and we're excited to start making the place feel more like our own. An interesting note: I was 34 weeks pregnant with Tory when we closed on our current home in the Twin Cities and 34 weeks pregnant with Baby #2 when we purchased our lake cabin. Wonder what our big purchase will be if Third Baby ever comes about?
We made plans Saturday to go to Nature's Select Orchard, one of our very favorite places to visit each fall, with our cabin friends Josh, Krista and their daughter, Hannah. The weather on Saturday wasn't perfect (cloudy, misty rain and a bit cooler) but we made the best of it. As always, the owners of Nature's Select were so welcoming and gracious. The farmer took us on a hayride to the patch where we walked around and selected our pumpkins.
The orchard added baby goats this year and Tory just had to see them. They were the sweetest little animals and one of them even kissed Hannah!
Because this is our life these days ... we also toted the potty chair through the orchard for Tory. You never know when the call of nature will strike and I wasn't sure what the bathroom situation would be there. It was a good thing we brought it along because she actually used it once by the goat pen; quite the comical sight I'm sure seeing a toddler seated on a potty chair in the middle of a field. By the end of this potty training journey, I think I could write a book titled Oh, The Places You'll Go! because it feels like our entire lives revolve around Tory and the potty these days. Country roads, goat pens, festivals ... you name it.
After the orchard, we parted ways with Krista and Josh, then came back to the cabin for Tory's afternoon nap. She took a teeny cap nap, as per usual, so Andi and I decided to make a trip to nearby Stone Lake for their annual Cranberry Festival Saturday evening. There were a variety of festival events taking place throughout the day, but the website seemed to indicate everything ended at 5:00pm. Based on timing, we were only going to catch the last 30 minutes of activities by the time we drove there, but Andi and I decided to visit anyway. What else were we going to do on a dreary, fall day? Later, we gathered there isn't much happening at the Cranberry Festival after 5:00pm because the entire town was stumbling drunk. We walked around Stone Lake a bit and browsed a few of the vendor shops before jumping back in the car and heading home to the cabin.
Sunday was a lazy day. Tory and I lounged around the cabin while Andi met with another contractor regarding some future projects at the cabin and then the three of us went for a long walk around the lake. Exercise is definitely becoming more challenging for me these days. I was having major Braxton Hicks contractions upon our return and my legs and hips were so sore the rest of Sunday. All part of being 8 1/2 months pregnant, I guess.
Once again, we had a nice weekend at the lake. Fall is officially here and with it brings new activities to occupy our time. Hikes through the wooded trails, peeping leaves changing color and picking out pumpkins. Now we're official cabin owners, it's fun to think of the many, many years of fall traditions ahead -- bringing Aden to the pumpkin patch for the first time next year or maybe Andi and I making it to Stone Lake sans kiddos one year to enjoy all the drunken cranberry festivities. Feeling joyful today as I realize just how good our life is; we're in such a happy time and I'm truly thankful.
After the closing Friday afternoon, Andi, Tory and I celebrated with dinner at Hilltop Retreat. We toasted over drinks (a Wisconsin-style Old-Fashioned for him; O'Douls for her) and a tasty dinner.
We're either adjusting to the crazy of dining out with Tory, or eating in a restaurant with her is becoming slightly easier because we actually had a nice night out together. It helps that Hilltop has a salad bar so we can serve Tory instanteous plates of crackers, cottage cheese and pudding. Though now I reflect back on the evening, I think we are adjusted to the chaos as there was a fair share of pudding smeared all over the table and about 15 trips to the bathroom so Tory could potty (read: make a mess playing in the bathroom sink). Joe, Lisa, Morgan and McCall (the previous cabin owners) stopped by the cabin later in the evening for a celebritory cocktail after Tory was asleep.
Andi and I are really excited about our big cabin purchase. It really does feel like a second home to us and we're excited to start making the place feel more like our own. An interesting note: I was 34 weeks pregnant with Tory when we closed on our current home in the Twin Cities and 34 weeks pregnant with Baby #2 when we purchased our lake cabin. Wonder what our big purchase will be if Third Baby ever comes about?
We made plans Saturday to go to Nature's Select Orchard, one of our very favorite places to visit each fall, with our cabin friends Josh, Krista and their daughter, Hannah. The weather on Saturday wasn't perfect (cloudy, misty rain and a bit cooler) but we made the best of it. As always, the owners of Nature's Select were so welcoming and gracious. The farmer took us on a hayride to the patch where we walked around and selected our pumpkins.
 |
| Hannah and Tory on a wagon ride through the pumpkin patch |
 |
 |
| Heather - 34 weeks pregnant with baby #2; Krista - 20 weeks pregnant with baby #2 |
Because this is our life these days ... we also toted the potty chair through the orchard for Tory. You never know when the call of nature will strike and I wasn't sure what the bathroom situation would be there. It was a good thing we brought it along because she actually used it once by the goat pen; quite the comical sight I'm sure seeing a toddler seated on a potty chair in the middle of a field. By the end of this potty training journey, I think I could write a book titled Oh, The Places You'll Go! because it feels like our entire lives revolve around Tory and the potty these days. Country roads, goat pens, festivals ... you name it.
After the orchard, we parted ways with Krista and Josh, then came back to the cabin for Tory's afternoon nap. She took a teeny cap nap, as per usual, so Andi and I decided to make a trip to nearby Stone Lake for their annual Cranberry Festival Saturday evening. There were a variety of festival events taking place throughout the day, but the website seemed to indicate everything ended at 5:00pm. Based on timing, we were only going to catch the last 30 minutes of activities by the time we drove there, but Andi and I decided to visit anyway. What else were we going to do on a dreary, fall day? Later, we gathered there isn't much happening at the Cranberry Festival after 5:00pm because the entire town was stumbling drunk. We walked around Stone Lake a bit and browsed a few of the vendor shops before jumping back in the car and heading home to the cabin.
Sunday was a lazy day. Tory and I lounged around the cabin while Andi met with another contractor regarding some future projects at the cabin and then the three of us went for a long walk around the lake. Exercise is definitely becoming more challenging for me these days. I was having major Braxton Hicks contractions upon our return and my legs and hips were so sore the rest of Sunday. All part of being 8 1/2 months pregnant, I guess.
Once again, we had a nice weekend at the lake. Fall is officially here and with it brings new activities to occupy our time. Hikes through the wooded trails, peeping leaves changing color and picking out pumpkins. Now we're official cabin owners, it's fun to think of the many, many years of fall traditions ahead -- bringing Aden to the pumpkin patch for the first time next year or maybe Andi and I making it to Stone Lake sans kiddos one year to enjoy all the drunken cranberry festivities. Feeling joyful today as I realize just how good our life is; we're in such a happy time and I'm truly thankful.
Friday, October 4, 2013
It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas ...
Thirty-nine days until our baby boy is due.
Eighty-one days until Christmas.
How's that for putting things into perspective?
Believe it or not, I'm nearly finished with my Christmas shopping this year. I have to be organized. I know there won't be time for shopping in November and December. Well, it could probably be done, but it would completely stress me out. Oddly enough, Andi and I take care of buying our respective sides of the family Christmas gifts. We've done it this way since we were dating and it just makes sense to us, I guess. I'm nearly finished buying for my parents, siblings, nieces, cousins and friends. Andi hasn't started shopping ... and I keep reminding him if he wants me to wrap anything for him, it best be in possession by October 31.
All this early planning has me excited for the holiday season. For once, I'm not shocked when stores are setting up decor or appalled by layaway commercials on television. I'm not a big fan of Halloween anyway, so let's skip right past that holiday and move onto the good ones. Since I'm under less pressure to buy last-minute, I've come up with some creative presents for loved ones this year. I handmade many of the gifts for the littles in our lives which probably saved me money in the long run. I have a tendency to spend way too much on Christmas gifts; usually because I can't think of the "perfect" item to give, so I end up buying a more expensive version of something I find acceptable. This year, I set a budget for each person and really stuck to it.
I'm thinking of doing the "want / need / wear / read" method for Tory and Aden this year. Partly because Tory already has so much stuff and Aden won't know the difference. I've already settled on buying Tory a luggage set from Santa Claus (need) but I'll have to come up with some sort of "wanted" toy. Maybe a doll house or an addition to her kitchen set? Not sure yet. I ordered Aden a PBK Anywhere Chair for his room, so that'll be his big "need" gift. (Obviously, he needs it because his sister has one - ha!). Both kids really need winter clothes and books are always welcome, so those two categories are easy.
Surprisingly, I actually have a Christmas wish-list going for myself this year. I'm so darn excited to wear real non-maternity clothes again, so I'd like some new pull-overs, zip-up hoodies and sweaters to wear this winter. Andi's really good at picking out clothes I'll like, so I hope he takes care of some of that for me. I'd also like a new digital camera. I lost my old camera last summer and then Andi gave me his semi-broken point-and-shoot when he got a new one earlier this year. Taking pics with an iPhone is so convenient, but I feel a lot of guilt about my child(ren)'s lives being documented solely by a cell phone camera. It's obvious when Andi's been traveling because all the pictures I have of Tory are iPhone photos. I'd like to have a nicer camera for myself. I welcome new kitchen gadgets, as always. (Mini loaf pans, a cookie scoop and a Pampered Chef Large Stone Bar Pan are on my wish list). I wouldn't mind some nice throw blankets for the cabin. And finally, I've been hoping for a new blog design for some time now. A new web page is such a frivolous "nice to have," but I still think it'd be fun to do. Of course, beautiful jewelry is always welcome, Andi! *wink, wink*
Eighty-one days until Christmas.
Just over a month until Aden arrives.
Crazy talk.
I'm excited, though. More than excited, really. I'm giddy when I think about all the happy times ahead.
Eighty-one days until Christmas.
How's that for putting things into perspective?
Believe it or not, I'm nearly finished with my Christmas shopping this year. I have to be organized. I know there won't be time for shopping in November and December. Well, it could probably be done, but it would completely stress me out. Oddly enough, Andi and I take care of buying our respective sides of the family Christmas gifts. We've done it this way since we were dating and it just makes sense to us, I guess. I'm nearly finished buying for my parents, siblings, nieces, cousins and friends. Andi hasn't started shopping ... and I keep reminding him if he wants me to wrap anything for him, it best be in possession by October 31.
All this early planning has me excited for the holiday season. For once, I'm not shocked when stores are setting up decor or appalled by layaway commercials on television. I'm not a big fan of Halloween anyway, so let's skip right past that holiday and move onto the good ones. Since I'm under less pressure to buy last-minute, I've come up with some creative presents for loved ones this year. I handmade many of the gifts for the littles in our lives which probably saved me money in the long run. I have a tendency to spend way too much on Christmas gifts; usually because I can't think of the "perfect" item to give, so I end up buying a more expensive version of something I find acceptable. This year, I set a budget for each person and really stuck to it.
I'm thinking of doing the "want / need / wear / read" method for Tory and Aden this year. Partly because Tory already has so much stuff and Aden won't know the difference. I've already settled on buying Tory a luggage set from Santa Claus (need) but I'll have to come up with some sort of "wanted" toy. Maybe a doll house or an addition to her kitchen set? Not sure yet. I ordered Aden a PBK Anywhere Chair for his room, so that'll be his big "need" gift. (Obviously, he needs it because his sister has one - ha!). Both kids really need winter clothes and books are always welcome, so those two categories are easy.
Surprisingly, I actually have a Christmas wish-list going for myself this year. I'm so darn excited to wear real non-maternity clothes again, so I'd like some new pull-overs, zip-up hoodies and sweaters to wear this winter. Andi's really good at picking out clothes I'll like, so I hope he takes care of some of that for me. I'd also like a new digital camera. I lost my old camera last summer and then Andi gave me his semi-broken point-and-shoot when he got a new one earlier this year. Taking pics with an iPhone is so convenient, but I feel a lot of guilt about my child(ren)'s lives being documented solely by a cell phone camera. It's obvious when Andi's been traveling because all the pictures I have of Tory are iPhone photos. I'd like to have a nicer camera for myself. I welcome new kitchen gadgets, as always. (Mini loaf pans, a cookie scoop and a Pampered Chef Large Stone Bar Pan are on my wish list). I wouldn't mind some nice throw blankets for the cabin. And finally, I've been hoping for a new blog design for some time now. A new web page is such a frivolous "nice to have," but I still think it'd be fun to do. Of course, beautiful jewelry is always welcome, Andi! *wink, wink*
Eighty-one days until Christmas.
Just over a month until Aden arrives.
Crazy talk.
I'm excited, though. More than excited, really. I'm giddy when I think about all the happy times ahead.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Big Sister / Little Brother Gifts
I've been hard at work on Tory's and Aden's gifts for when sister meets brother in the hospital next month. I want Aden's arrival to be exciting and happy for Tory, so I've pondered and planned each detail. If all goes well, Andi's parents will bring Tory to the hospital at some point after Aden's birth and at that time, Aden will give Tory his "big sister" present. In return, Tory will present Aden with her "little brother" gift.
First, I purchased Big Sister / Little Brother shirts here for the duo to wear. Super happy with the quality and customization of each of these little shirts. Highly recommend. Each shirt is part of the kid's gift, but I'd like Tory to wear hers to the hospital so I didn't include it in her gift bag. Aden's onesie will likely be too big for him at birth, so I'll snap a few pictures of them wearing the shirts together at home on a later date.
For Tory's "big sister" gift, I included the following:
First, I purchased Big Sister / Little Brother shirts here for the duo to wear. Super happy with the quality and customization of each of these little shirts. Highly recommend. Each shirt is part of the kid's gift, but I'd like Tory to wear hers to the hospital so I didn't include it in her gift bag. Aden's onesie will likely be too big for him at birth, so I'll snap a few pictures of them wearing the shirts together at home on a later date.
For Tory's "big sister" gift, I included the following:
- "Baby brother" doll
- Toy diaper bag
- Magic bottle set
- Handmade baby doll bibs and diapers
I probably spent way too much time, effort and money on her gift but hey, a girl only becomes a big sister once in her life so it's worth it.
Tory loves to play pretend mommy to her dolls and with a new brother at home, I know she'll want to imitate everything I'm doing for the baby. I searched long and hard for a "boy" baby doll that looked somewhat real. (Seriously, you wouldn't think this would be so hard to find). I saw cloth boy baby dolls like this one and this one available only in random Target stores (quick, visit a 100 different ones and see if you can find it on the shelf -- good luck!) but I could not find a suitable option. Finally, I decided to cough up the extra moolah and purchase the JC Toys La Newborn Real Boy doll. I bought the girl version for my niece a few years ago, so I knew the doll really looks like a newborn baby. The "boy" doll even has correct anatomy (ahem) which is a feature I didn't really need and will probably bring up a few interesting questions from my toddler, but I suppose the real baby Aden's anatomy might stir up those same inquiries, so whatever.
I also purchased this Melissa & Doug Toy Diaper Changing Set. I considered making a toy diaper bag from a small canvas tote but for a few extra dollars, I could just buy this one and be done with it. This toy came with a baby wipes and baby ointment container, as well as one cloth doll diaper. It's fits all the baby diaper pieces and is exactly what I was hoping for. I know Tory will get a big kick out of carrying it around with her babies. To put inside the toy diaper bag, I also purchased these Magic Baby Bottles. You know the ones; the liquid inside appears and disappears when you tip the bottle just so.
Finally, I used this tutorial to sew handmade cloth baby doll diapers and bibs. I am by no means an expert seamstress, so I enlisted my wonderful mother-in-law, Janie, to pull these together. I used fabric quarters and colored felt I already had on hand for the material and one of Tory's current baby dolls to make a pattern template out of paper for the diaper and bib sizes. What I didn't realize was, by the time I sewed the materials together and flipped them inside out for clean edges, the diapers and bibs would actually shrink to a smaller size than my original template. It worked out fine, but they were a little hard to turn right-side out after sewing. (See? I'm new to this sewing thing). I put in a few hours work on them and then Janie finished them up in an instant by sewing Velcro tabs on the closures. Tory is just going to flip when she sees the baby doll diapers and bibs. The little turkey is already stealing the clean ones I have washed and ready for Aden in his nursery.
I considered buying some activity books and crayons, or a big sister / little brother book for Tory's gift as well, but we already have tons of these things at home. I may throw in a few of our existing coloring books and crayons into my hospital bag for Tory to play with when she's at the hospital visiting. Who am I kidding, though? The girl is going to be all over her new baby brother.
For Aden's "little brother" gift, I've purchased /or am planning the following:
- "Little brother" onesie (pictured above)
- Pacifiers
- Bibs
- A picture Tory colors for the baby
I'm planning to have Tory pick out some pacifiers and bibs for Aden at the store, as well as color a picture for him a little closer to my due date. We'll wrap Aden's gift together so she remembers she's giving it to him.
I'm hoping all the hoopla around "big sister" / "little brother" gifts makes this time in Tory's life truly special and helps the transition go smoothly. I'm excited to see Tory's reaction when she meets her baby brother for the first time. My heart may literally explode with happiness.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Potty Training: What I've Learned
Alright, so potty-training my two-year-old while eight months pregnant is not ideal. But, that's where we're at. This is happening. I personally have no problem with two kiddos in diapers for a few months (visions of nursing an infant while sitting on the bathroom floor next to a potty-training toddler keep dancing through my mind), but Tory seems to be showing great interest in toilet training, so here we go ....
Our Potty Training Journey
For my own documenting purposes, I wanted to jot down Tory's potty training journey. Likely one of those things that's of little interest to anyone but me, so skip down to Potty Training: What I've Learned to hear my tips and tricks on toilet training.
This spring, Tory was curious about the bathroom process so I bought a potty chair, books and training pants to have on hand when it was "time." Back then, she found more interest in unrolling and flushing rolls of toilet paper, so I knew she wasn't ready. Interested in the bathroom, but not actually interested in going potty. Got it.
*Repeated use of the word "potty" in the post. There's just no other way around it, sorry.
The potty chair has been a fixture on our bathroom floor for months and occasionally Tory sits on it for fun. No pressure from mama, Tory Bean! New baby on the way!
Then a few weeks ago, Tory randomly pooped on her potty chair. Hooray! She did it again a few days later. Wahoo! I busted out A Potty For Me and it instantly became one of Tory's favorite books. She seemed interested in using the potty chair and clearly understood what was required of her. We went a week or so of Tory telling me she was messing in her diaper as she performed the action. Then one Wednesday morning, Tory asked for the potty chair and successfully used it within 30 minutes of waking up. We had nowhere to be that day so I thought, "hey, what's the harm? We'll run with the potty chair today and she how she does." Since we were at home, I kept her naked from the waist down throughout the day and she had zero accidents. Not one!
The next day, Tory and I had a play date scheduled at a friend's house. She used the potty successfully at home in the morning and rode over to our play date in training pants. She was dry when we arrived there. I brought our potty chair along and kept it close while Tory was playing with her friends. Within 15 minutes of arriving (and after one unsuccessful attempt at trying to go) Tory had her first accident. Bummer. A change of clothes was needed. I reminded her often and she tried to go a few times during the play date with no result. A bit later, another bathroom accident happened and required a second change of clothes. Back at home by lunchtime, I stripped Tory waist-down again and she didn't have another accident for the rest of the day.
On our third day of potty training, Tory had music class in the morning. My plan was to arrive in plenty of time to use the restroom before class began. I also planned to bring the potty chair along (so she wouldn't be freaked by using a public restroom) and leave it outside the music classroom door for easy access. Taking a cue from the prior day's outing, I brought several sets of clothes along, just in case. But when we hopped in the car for class, I realized I needed to stop for gas. Music class is already a 20 minute drive, so I knew I was pushing it with Tory's tiny bladder. When we arrived to class 30-ish minutes later, Tory had wet her pants. No problem; a quick change of clothes in the car and we were on our way. At some point in the middle of class, I asked Tory if she needed to potty. I was surprised when she responded with "yes" and we quickly bolted to the waiting potty chair outside the classroom door. She went with success! The rest of Day 3 was smooth sailing for the most part. I know The Potty Training gods recommend discontinuing the use of diapers once potty training is started but later in the day, I did put a diaper on Tory as we drove to the cabin. I had a hard time believing she'd stay dry for 1 1/2 hours in the car no matter how many times we stopped along the way.
Potty training days 4 and 5 (the weekend) at the lake cabin were ... not so successful. We had a fairly low-key weekend with lots of lounge-time, but she just wasn't having it. Lots of bathroom accidents despite using the same potty chair in similar circumstances to at home. In fact, I don't think Tory successfully used the potty one time all weekend. We continued to be consistent and brought the potty chair along with us wherever we went ... including on truck rides throughout the countryside.
By the end of the weekend, Tory was actually refusing to sit on the potty. I began to wonder if she was ready for this. It doesn't bother me if she has a few accidents, but I didn't want to push her into doing something if she wasn't ready. I decided to be keep plugging along and give potty training another few days to stick. I'm sure we'll have some regression along the way, especially after Baby Brother arrives next month, and that's okay. I'm quickly learning potty training isn't as cut and dried as some of the "methods" suggest.
Our Potty Training Journey
For my own documenting purposes, I wanted to jot down Tory's potty training journey. Likely one of those things that's of little interest to anyone but me, so skip down to Potty Training: What I've Learned to hear my tips and tricks on toilet training.
This spring, Tory was curious about the bathroom process so I bought a potty chair, books and training pants to have on hand when it was "time." Back then, she found more interest in unrolling and flushing rolls of toilet paper, so I knew she wasn't ready. Interested in the bathroom, but not actually interested in going potty. Got it.
*Repeated use of the word "potty" in the post. There's just no other way around it, sorry.
The potty chair has been a fixture on our bathroom floor for months and occasionally Tory sits on it for fun. No pressure from mama, Tory Bean! New baby on the way!
Then a few weeks ago, Tory randomly pooped on her potty chair. Hooray! She did it again a few days later. Wahoo! I busted out A Potty For Me and it instantly became one of Tory's favorite books. She seemed interested in using the potty chair and clearly understood what was required of her. We went a week or so of Tory telling me she was messing in her diaper as she performed the action. Then one Wednesday morning, Tory asked for the potty chair and successfully used it within 30 minutes of waking up. We had nowhere to be that day so I thought, "hey, what's the harm? We'll run with the potty chair today and she how she does." Since we were at home, I kept her naked from the waist down throughout the day and she had zero accidents. Not one!
The next day, Tory and I had a play date scheduled at a friend's house. She used the potty successfully at home in the morning and rode over to our play date in training pants. She was dry when we arrived there. I brought our potty chair along and kept it close while Tory was playing with her friends. Within 15 minutes of arriving (and after one unsuccessful attempt at trying to go) Tory had her first accident. Bummer. A change of clothes was needed. I reminded her often and she tried to go a few times during the play date with no result. A bit later, another bathroom accident happened and required a second change of clothes. Back at home by lunchtime, I stripped Tory waist-down again and she didn't have another accident for the rest of the day.
On our third day of potty training, Tory had music class in the morning. My plan was to arrive in plenty of time to use the restroom before class began. I also planned to bring the potty chair along (so she wouldn't be freaked by using a public restroom) and leave it outside the music classroom door for easy access. Taking a cue from the prior day's outing, I brought several sets of clothes along, just in case. But when we hopped in the car for class, I realized I needed to stop for gas. Music class is already a 20 minute drive, so I knew I was pushing it with Tory's tiny bladder. When we arrived to class 30-ish minutes later, Tory had wet her pants. No problem; a quick change of clothes in the car and we were on our way. At some point in the middle of class, I asked Tory if she needed to potty. I was surprised when she responded with "yes" and we quickly bolted to the waiting potty chair outside the classroom door. She went with success! The rest of Day 3 was smooth sailing for the most part. I know The Potty Training gods recommend discontinuing the use of diapers once potty training is started but later in the day, I did put a diaper on Tory as we drove to the cabin. I had a hard time believing she'd stay dry for 1 1/2 hours in the car no matter how many times we stopped along the way.
Potty training days 4 and 5 (the weekend) at the lake cabin were ... not so successful. We had a fairly low-key weekend with lots of lounge-time, but she just wasn't having it. Lots of bathroom accidents despite using the same potty chair in similar circumstances to at home. In fact, I don't think Tory successfully used the potty one time all weekend. We continued to be consistent and brought the potty chair along with us wherever we went ... including on truck rides throughout the countryside.
By the end of the weekend, Tory was actually refusing to sit on the potty. I began to wonder if she was ready for this. It doesn't bother me if she has a few accidents, but I didn't want to push her into doing something if she wasn't ready. I decided to be keep plugging along and give potty training another few days to stick. I'm sure we'll have some regression along the way, especially after Baby Brother arrives next month, and that's okay. I'm quickly learning potty training isn't as cut and dried as some of the "methods" suggest.
From Sunday night on (the moment Tory has been back on home turf), she has done fantastic on the potty chair. Lots of praiseful happy dances all around. I think
we're on a roll now and I'll continue toilet training as long as Tory is
interested. I'm a little nervous to tackle bigger "out of the house" activities like ECFE class or our trip to the orchard later this week, but we'll see how it goes. Accidents are bound to happen and it'll eventually get better.
Potty Training: What I've Learned
Prior to beginning, I read many articles on various methods of potty training but never did I hear the minute details or tips about the process. Think top-line view vs. the nitty gritty. I'm by no means an expert on toilet training, but here's a few things I've picked up in my experience:
- Potty training is gross. There, I said it. Maybe it's just me and my queasy 8 1/2 month pregnant self, but I've had to pull on a layer of tough skin dumping and rinsing poop and potty all the live long day. It's very different than changing dirty diapers.
- Establish a routine. Ours is: 1) Use the potty chair 2) Give mad praise 3) Dump the "business" in the toilet and let Tory do the honors of flushing 4) Rinse the potty chair bowl 5) Dry and sanitize the potty 6) Wash and dry hands 7) Reward with a treat.
- Sanitizing wipes are your friend. Speaking of sanitizing ... after my first encounters with the potty chair on Day 1, I decided there had to be a more sanitary system for cleaning the potty chair bowl than just rinsing. My bathroom countertop is more cluttered than my preference, but I've developed a system that works. There's a hand towel for drying clean hands and another for drying out the potty chair bowl. I added a container of Clorox Wipes to the countertop for sanitizing the p-chair bowl after every use and a pack of travel wet wipes for cleaning the toddler. In hindsight, this seems like a no-brainer but I never read / heard anyone mention all the "accessories" needed to keep things clean. Granted, I don't sanitize the other toilets every time they're used in our household, but I also don't carry grown up-sized toilets around with me wherever I go. Bottom line: load up on disinfectant wipes, wet wipes and hand soap before embarking on the potty training journey.
- Praise regardless. M&Ms are Tory's very favorite treat so I reward with one Mini M&M candy for every successful use of the potty AND for every effort. (I wanted to say solid effort there, but it just didn't seem right). Giving one candy at a time seems to be enough incentive for Tory, so I don't reward bigger for poops vs. potty. Just one candy every time she tries and/or successfully uses it.
- Get ready to do some laundry. I bought four 3-packs of the thicker Gerber training pants to use at the beginning of potty training and another two packs of regular little girl's underwear. Factoring in bathroom accidents (pants and underwear), plus hand towels for drying both hands and the potty chair ... you'll be doing a lot of laundry.
- The potty chair becomes the latest accessory. It might not be necessary to carry the potty chair everywhere, but I've found it easier to have one near us at all times vs. scurrying for the bathroom ... especially if you're venturing to an unfamiliar place. Even at home, I move the potty chair from room to room with us so quick access to the potty is always available. In the early stage of potty training, I also don't want to overwhelm or scare Tory with public bathrooms, so packing our (sanitized) potty chair along in a tote bag and carrying it with us insures she has the same potty chair to use everywhere. Of course, I won't carry the potty chair with us forever but for now it seems important.
- Using the potty doesn't mean the fun has to end. I remind Tory often that she can continue doing whatever she's doing while using the potty. This seems to help her stop playing, for example, and take a minute to use the restroom. She can go back to what she was previously doing when she's done (after washing hands, of course).
- Bring an extra change of clothes. Actually, bring 12. On our first potty training out-of-the-house adventure, I brought along two sets of dry clothes. That'd be enough, right? Nope. I just had enough and we were only away from home for two hours. I'm finding it best to have a least 3-4 pairs of dry underwear and pants for even the smallest potty-friendly outing.
- Get a Wet Bag. My mother-in-law gifted me adorable wet bags when Tory was born. I've carried a folded one in my diaper bag since the beginning of parenting, but honestly never used it much. I suppose it'd be great to use for an soiled infant outfit and I may have done that a time of two, but now that I'm toting several pairs of potty-soaked underwear and pants in my purse, these wet bags have come in handy. These disposable bags would work, too.
- Dresses or leggings are best. At least in these early stages of toilet training, it seems Tory is far more likely to have a potty training success if she's bare from the waist down. Eventually she'll have to learn how to use the potty while wearing underwear / pants but for now when in the comfort of our own home, a naked bum yields more success. I'm not very modest, but I felt a little uncomfortable having Tory running around half-naked all day. She was climbing on toys and furniture in her birthday suit and baring all for visitors. I know she's a little girl, but still. So, I've found it best to dress Tory in cotton dresses. That way, she was still naked on the bottom half, but not as visibly as if she were just wearing a t-shirt. For public outings, stretch leggings seem to be the best attire because Tory instantly realizes if she's messed in her pants. The fabric sticks to her legs. True, leggings show a potty accident immediately but that also helps me realize she's gone.
- Diapers / Pull-Ups for naps and bedtime. I've heard of some people going all the way with training pants or/ undies 24/7. For me, it's a nice relief (and a gradual transition into things) to continue using diapers / Pull-Ups at naps and bedtime.
- Be patient. Maybe this is just my experience, but I've come to realize there is no "3 day" method to potty training. I think Tory's done a fantastic job catching on, but I'm 100% sure she'll have accidents going forward. To expect anything less would be setting ourselves up for failure. And, that's OK. Like everything, potty training takes time and patience.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
First Fall Cabin Weekend
Original plans for this past Saturday and Sunday were a quiet Tory and Mommy girl's weekend at home. Andi spent the better half of late September traveling for work in what was his last "big trip" before Baby Boy arrives next month. Last weekend, there were wildfires in California where Andi's work event was scheduled to take place which caused an event cancellation and his early arrival home. We decided to make a last-minute trip to the lake cabin since we had an unexpected weekend together with few plans. The first full weekend of fall promised to be somewhat rainy anyway, so better to be at the cabin relaxing by the fire than going stir-crazy at home.
Our official purchase of the cabin is nearing and we've been busy shopping for new decor. My SUV was loaded with pictures, a bookshelf and frames for the cabin walls. After a quick stop by the self-serve farmer's market on the way to the cabin, we spent most of Friday evening talking idea layouts and enjoying the unseasonably warm weather outside. Instead of dining on the Crock-Pot Pot Pie Stew I made for dinner, we opted for take-out from The County Line, picnic style on our back patio overlooking the lake. It's crazy how "seasonal" cabin life is for some people. It felt like we were the only people on the lake last weekend as many other lake-lovers had pulled their docks and boats from the water and "closed up" after summer. Pulling our dock from the lake is the official end of summer and always a moment Andi and I mourn. We weren't ready to do it quite yet, but next weekend will likely be time. Well, who am I kidding? I won't actually do anything but watch Andi pull it out of the water.
Most of Saturday was windy and rainy. Andi, Tory and I made a trip into town for window shopping and a few groceries. We found the most adorable stuffed animal taxidermy for Aden's rustic nursery at Idlewild Outfitters. Part of me can't believe I hung replicas of dead animals in my baby's nursery, but the other half can't get over how cute they are. Better yet, the ones we found at Idlewild were much less expensive than similar ones seen here, so WIN.
After the rain stopped, we headed outdoors. It started with a walk down the main cabin road and for once in forever, I wasn't feeling pregnancy-winded by the end. We decided to keep going through some wooded trails by the cabin. We told Tory we were on an adventure and kept ourselves busy collecting fallen leaves and sticks along the way. Andi taught Tory how to stand under small sapling trees and shake their trunks to "make it rain" on us. It was determined our silly Chloe dog is the worst hunting dog ever as she was more concerned with sniffing stuff and running ahead of us than kicking up the low-lying grouse nearby. The birds nearly scared us (okay, me) half to death every time they've abruptly fly off by our walking path.
The three of us were having so much fun, we decided to take the paddle boat for a spin in the lake's bay. We paddled around on a "baby boat ride" as Tory calls it, and stopped to explore the island in view from our cabin's backside. It was fun for this 8 1/2 month pregnant lady until I about had a heart attack from excursion. Turns out Baby Boy doesn't like to be bumped in the belly repeatedly from cycling. He was kicking up a storm by the end.
Sunday, Andi had a few meetings scheduled with various cabin contractors and a couple interested in buying our Ranger ATV. Tory and I played indoors while he did so. Like the dork that I am, I downloaded Leaf Snap onto my iPhone and Tory and I made a craft with all the leaves we collected during Saturday's wooded adventure. My smart husband correctly identified most of the leaves while we collected them; I knew none of them. (No wonder I got a C+ in that Plants and Animals class in back college). The app was perfect for this type of toddler nature project. The "Year 2000 me" must've known there would be no need to learn all those plant species.
Sunday afternoon, Andi and I decided to take Tory to Fawn-Doe-Rosa Wildlife Education Park to see the animals. We drive by this place almost every weekend on the way to the cabin and we've always wanted to stop. Sunday was the perfect fall day to do so. Tory absolutely loved the animals and it was neat to see them all up close. We saw deer, ducks, chicken and geese wandering along the paths, in addition to donkeys, wolves, rabbits, raccoons, alpacas, sheep and goats behind fences. Andi bought Tory a bag of feed for the animals and Tory kept chanting "more carrots" during our entire visit. She loved the idea of feeding the animals but didn't want to do any of the actual feeding herself (and I can't blame her)! Andi ended up doing most of the dirty work feeding the animals out of his hands. It was a fun time, though it's no secret I have a deep dislike for birds and the flocks of geese running around our feet were a little un-nerving.
All in all, a fun fall weekend. As sad as I am to see summer go, I'm also excited about the autumn activities we get to take advantage of as the weather cools down a bit and the leaves begin to fall around us.
Our official purchase of the cabin is nearing and we've been busy shopping for new decor. My SUV was loaded with pictures, a bookshelf and frames for the cabin walls. After a quick stop by the self-serve farmer's market on the way to the cabin, we spent most of Friday evening talking idea layouts and enjoying the unseasonably warm weather outside. Instead of dining on the Crock-Pot Pot Pie Stew I made for dinner, we opted for take-out from The County Line, picnic style on our back patio overlooking the lake. It's crazy how "seasonal" cabin life is for some people. It felt like we were the only people on the lake last weekend as many other lake-lovers had pulled their docks and boats from the water and "closed up" after summer. Pulling our dock from the lake is the official end of summer and always a moment Andi and I mourn. We weren't ready to do it quite yet, but next weekend will likely be time. Well, who am I kidding? I won't actually do anything but watch Andi pull it out of the water.
 |
| Self-serve farmer's market and a payment by honor system. Isn't small town America just awesome? |
Most of Saturday was windy and rainy. Andi, Tory and I made a trip into town for window shopping and a few groceries. We found the most adorable stuffed animal taxidermy for Aden's rustic nursery at Idlewild Outfitters. Part of me can't believe I hung replicas of dead animals in my baby's nursery, but the other half can't get over how cute they are. Better yet, the ones we found at Idlewild were much less expensive than similar ones seen here, so WIN.
After the rain stopped, we headed outdoors. It started with a walk down the main cabin road and for once in forever, I wasn't feeling pregnancy-winded by the end. We decided to keep going through some wooded trails by the cabin. We told Tory we were on an adventure and kept ourselves busy collecting fallen leaves and sticks along the way. Andi taught Tory how to stand under small sapling trees and shake their trunks to "make it rain" on us. It was determined our silly Chloe dog is the worst hunting dog ever as she was more concerned with sniffing stuff and running ahead of us than kicking up the low-lying grouse nearby. The birds nearly scared us (okay, me) half to death every time they've abruptly fly off by our walking path.
 |
| "Selfie!" Tory said when Andi snapped this photo. Ha! |
Sunday, Andi had a few meetings scheduled with various cabin contractors and a couple interested in buying our Ranger ATV. Tory and I played indoors while he did so. Like the dork that I am, I downloaded Leaf Snap onto my iPhone and Tory and I made a craft with all the leaves we collected during Saturday's wooded adventure. My smart husband correctly identified most of the leaves while we collected them; I knew none of them. (No wonder I got a C+ in that Plants and Animals class in back college). The app was perfect for this type of toddler nature project. The "Year 2000 me" must've known there would be no need to learn all those plant species.
Sunday afternoon, Andi and I decided to take Tory to Fawn-Doe-Rosa Wildlife Education Park to see the animals. We drive by this place almost every weekend on the way to the cabin and we've always wanted to stop. Sunday was the perfect fall day to do so. Tory absolutely loved the animals and it was neat to see them all up close. We saw deer, ducks, chicken and geese wandering along the paths, in addition to donkeys, wolves, rabbits, raccoons, alpacas, sheep and goats behind fences. Andi bought Tory a bag of feed for the animals and Tory kept chanting "more carrots" during our entire visit. She loved the idea of feeding the animals but didn't want to do any of the actual feeding herself (and I can't blame her)! Andi ended up doing most of the dirty work feeding the animals out of his hands. It was a fun time, though it's no secret I have a deep dislike for birds and the flocks of geese running around our feet were a little un-nerving.
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