Dancing Queen

Chloe and I love to watch videos you all post of your little ones. In fact, that's what Chloe thinks the computer's main purpose is. She'll see me on the computer and say "babies! babies!" (indicating her desire to see some babies in action in your videos).

So, to provide you and your little ones with some video fun, here's a cute one I recorded of Chloe dancing to her new favorite cd. The cd is great because it's all in spanish so it's an excellent learning tool. BUT, after 5 times hearing it in one day, I find myself singing these songs in my brain and becoming annoyed anytime I heard the familiar first song (Matt taught Chloe how to work the cd player so she can start it by herself if I leave the cd in the player). So, we're mixing things up and putting the spanish cd away for awhile.

Do your kids have any cds they like to hear over and over and over and over again?

Enjoy our dancing queen!


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting

The bee that got away

Many thanks to all of you for your positive comments on my spelling chances at our library bee last night. I feel as though I've let you down. I hate to break this to you all, but I didn't win the bee last night. But I could have won the bee, unfortunately, to state it in my hubby's words, I was totally shafted. All because of the picture at left. Let me explain . . .

This year's library bee had only 11 participants and I thought my odds of winning were pretty good. Here's where the shafting comes in. The library guy who organizes the bee is an odd character named Rex. He's an older guy who has an unassuming and awkward way about him. In order to make the bee "more fun" he announced that he wasn't going to just use regular words in this year's bee. He thought it would be interesting to use proper names of musicians, movies, celebrities, countries, and cities in the bee.

Boy, did my heart sink when I heard that he was going to ask us to spell musicians' names. We don't watch TV (with the exception of an occasional Elmo's World or PGA tournament) so I'd be a total loss in that category.

So, the musician category came to my turn and I was given the name Rudy Vallee to spell. Looks like an easy enough name to spell, but I had never ever seen this guy's name in print. Sure, I've heard of Rudy Vallee and had the vague idea he was a crooner a long time ago but I was clueless as to how to spell his name. I guessed and guessed wrong. I spelled his name V-a-l-l-i-e and was eliminated.

The funny thing was that I knew how to spell every single word given at the bee! Grrrr. Another fishy thing was that the older gentleman who won the bee actually misspelled two different words on his first tries. But Rex wasn't paying very close attention and he asked him to repeat his spelling and the gent spelled the words correctly on his second attempts.

Oh well, Matt says next year's my year to take it all. And I'm truly glad this older fellow won, he was so pleased and proud looking when we all clapped for him. I felt much better about my spelling loss after Matt treated me to a Marx brother's movie night (A Night in Casablanca - hilarious!) along with some yummy buttery popcorn.

A memorable experience

[Warning: this is a long story, but I promise it will be worth the reading!]
Last week when my mom treated me to a day in Chicago, we also attended a newish musical, "Spelling Bee". It's about six very different, very oddball kids competing in their county spelling bee.

So, we arrived at the theater lobby a bit early and were admiring the decorations which made me feel as though I had walked into a middle school hallway. Amidst posters and pictures, there were two desks with a sign above reading "Think you can spell? Sign up here!". I assumed this was a part of the lobby ambiance. But we soon discovered it was for real. So, my mom and I headed over to the table and I filled out a questionnaire with a worker. According to the theater worker who questioned me, they would choose 4 different audience members to go on stage for the performance to spell with the actors! 20 minutes before curtain time, they announced the 4 specially chosen folks - and my name was not called. Bummer. But, the last fellow whose name was called didn't show so they called the next name on their list - ME!

After some private prepping (in which we were told we HAD to ask for a definition and use in a sentence for each word we were given - regardless of whether we knew the word or not), I returned to my seat next to my mom all a flutter with nervous excitement. About 5 minutes into the show, the female teacher who was moderating the bee asked for the four spellers who hadn't yet signed in to come to the front (that was our cue). We received official numbers and pins and then we took our seats amongst the actors on the onstage bleachers.

The musical proceeded and the acting and singing went on all around us! In the midst of all of this, spellers were called up to the microphone at the front of the stage to spell words - audience members right in the mix with the actors. The first audience member (a very nice older lady) was knocked out on the word pakapu and as she left the stage, she was comforted by the "comfort counselor" (a big black man who gave out juice boxes and hugs to disqualified spellers).

The next two audience members had reasonable words (jihad and Mexicans) so I wasn't sure what to expect when my name was called. I got the word cow. Yes, that's right COW! Needless-to-say, I felt like a complete dolt (especially when asking for a definition and sentence!). The moment went something like this . . . .

Vice-principal: "Miss Horn"
Teacher: "Miss Horn would like to thank her Aunt Lena and Uncle French for their support."
Vice-principal: "Miss Horn, your word is cow."
Me: "Cow? Could I have a definition please?"
Vice-principal: (exasperated) "The definition is a COW."
Me: "Would you use that in a sentence please?"
Vice-principal: (even more exasperated) "Please spell cow."

The audience laughed hysterically and I spelled cow correctly!

After more words, songs, and dances in which the actors moved us along (like cows) and whispered to us what to do, it was my turn to spell again. My next word was gremial. I spelled it correctly though I hadn't ever heard of it before. It means a cloth placed on a bishop's lap while he gives mass.

More singing and dancing takes place. By this time the other two audience members have both been eliminated.

I get called up again, this time my word is katerjoons (meaning unknown but coming from the old english). I spelled katerjoons right by merely guessing based on its origin. I was pumped! I go back to sit in my spot on the bleachers when the vice-principal calls me up again. Ok, I'm thinking, that's weird because they never call the same person twice in a row. Something fishy is going on here . . .

My next word was xerophilous (meaning growing in or adapting to dry, hot regions). You probably won't believe me, but I really did spell that crazy word correctly too! I was on a spelling roll! I walked back to my seat grinning widely and with spelling adrenaline coursing through me.

Imagine my surprise when the vp called me up yet again! Three words in a row?!? C'mon, now! Then it hit me: they need to get me off stage so they can go on with the show. They're TRYING to eliminate me! But I wasn't going down without a fight.

The next word the vp hit me with was the ridiculous word lysergicaciddiethylamide. That's when my spelling adrenaline disappeared. I was completely floored so I stuttered, "Um, l-i (ding)" That little ding (signifying my misspelling) was such a relief!

I collected my juice box, a hug, and a song from the intimidating-looking comfort counselor and walked back to my seat. As I left the stage, I heard the actors singing "goodbye, goodbye!" to me. They seemed a bit loud. I turned around and saw they were following me offstage and to my seat! They came right up to my chair and surrounded me (one actress sat on my mom's lap) and serenaded me with goodbyes.

Whew! As the show continued, I felt very glad to be in my seat where NO ONE was looking at me. We laughed all the way home retelling the words and funny instances of the show. The cutest part was when we were leaving the show, a few little girls came up to me and told me what a good job I did. That was the cutest!

Thanks for enduring this uber-long post for my silly story. I thought it would be appropriate to post now as tomorrow evening I'm enrolled in our library's adult spelling bee. Hopefully my spelling adrenaline will come to my aid!

A huge accomplishment!

Today I returned the book Bleak House to our local library because (drumroll please) . . . . .

I FINISHED READING IT!

I first checked it out about 8 months ago and have been chipping away at its 836 pages ever since. I felt elated and melancholy as I finished the last few chapters last night. Indeed, I was thoroughly caught up in the story (Esther being a most endearing character) and I voraciously read the lines, weeping (Dickens is the only poetic fellow to make me cry over his words!) and laughing as it concluded.

At the library this morning, I said goodbye to my constant friend of the last 8 months. The friend that I've checked out and renewed countless times. The friend that I got lost in during a bath or stayed up too late reading. Sigh.

What books are you reading right now?

Health updates

I have GREAT news to report on both my sis-in-law, Beth, and my friend's baby girl, Charis. Much thanks to all of you that prayed for them! God has answered the prayers of many and has healed in truly miraculous ways.

As for Beth, she's gone through one round of chemotherapy and her body is responding well to the treatment. She's had a few bad days where she needs to take it easy and rest, but overall she's very upbeat and energetic. During our family trip to the zoo, she was so incredibly positive and sociable it astounded me! She still has 4 more rounds of chemo (the next will be on Wednesday) so keep on praying that God will grant her strength of body and spirit.




Baby Charis' story a truly remarkable one. I won't go into all the details of her surgeries and ordeals in the hospital but it's a genuine miracle to see how God protected this sweet little girl. The heart transplant went extremely well and though the heart she received was bigger than anticipated (it came from an 18 lb. baby), that turned out to be a very good thing. Charis' new heart is incredibly strong and beats quickly. In fact, it began beating on its own as it was sewn into her body! Charis is home now after only 4 weeks in the hospital. As you can see from the picture at left, she's a healthy looking gal! She looks like any other regular little 1 month old. Charis has to be given 15 meds a day and her family has to be extraordinarily careful about germs and illness as she'll be taking immuno-suppressants for her entire life.




I can't thank you all enough for praying with us! I'll keep you posted on both of these precious ladies.

Too much to report

Hello, all! It seems like ages since I've blogged. Forgive me for taking a few much-needed recuperation days since we arrived home. Our trip to Wisconsin last week totally wiped me out. Seems like I've been sleeping non-stop since Monday.

We had a splendiferous time in Wisconsin visiting all sorts of family and friends! I won't bore you with all the details, but will post a slideshow for your easy-peasy viewing pleasure. I always find a vacation is easier to explain with photos.

Here's a brief run-down of all we did (you'll see why I was so tired after reading this!) . . .

• Tuesday: arrived, spent the day with nana, out to eat with gramma and played at a park
• Wednesday: out to breakfast with friends from concordia university (my part-time employer), visited concordia campus, went to chicago with my mom for shopping and an evening show (just WAIT 'til you hear the funny story about my onstage performance!)
  
• Thursday: spent morning with Trinity Hindman and boys, out to dinner with my mom, scrabble game with my mom
  
• Friday: visited friends in west bend, out to dinner with my mom
  
• Saturday: Milwaukee ZOO! with my mom, met up with Beth & family, webcammed with my sister
  
• Sunday: enjoyed Lake Michigan, lunched at whole foods market, visited & supped with nana, flew home to Ohio

Ok, I guess that wasn't horribly much but for an 11 week prego, it was rough. Chloe didn't always think she needed a nap even though I was always ready to! :) Thankfully, my mom often did Chloe duty so I could get some extra winks.

Enjoy the slideshow! More reports to come . . .

Home again

Today Chloe and I flew to Milwaukee, Wisconsin (the home city of both of our births) for a 6 day visit to see gramma and nana. Thankfully, the flight was uneventful and Chloe was angelic until the last 15 minutes or so. Then she got the wiggles. But, we survived and God brought us "home" safely to Wisconsin.

We had a long but fun-filled day (and a nap-less day may I add) with Chloe and her doting gramma and nana. Tomorrow will be packed but I'm really looking forward to it - after a rejuvenating night's rest of course.

That said, I'm off to hit the futon! Night-night, everyone.

The pros and cons of cloth swim diapers

Since we are cloth diaper advocates, you'd be right in assuming we use a cloth swim diaper for Chloe.

I LOVE Chloe's swim diaper! It's so easy to use and saves us scads of money since we don't have to buy the overpriced disposable swim diapers.

Here's how it works, she wears a cloth swim diaper for her bathing suit bottom and when she's done, I throw it in the washing machine. I found the diaper pictured here at a thrift store but I've also found them at yard sales. You can buy them new at any online cloth diaper store (cotton babies, diaperaps, punkinbutt, even target sold them last year). I bought her a matching top at a children's store outlet for a mere 99 cents. All in all this suit cost us $1.50.

Don't get me wrong though, there are some cons to using cloth. But I think the pros far outweigh the cons. Judge for yourself . . .




Pros

1. HUGE cost savings! Disposable swim diapers cost anywhere from $7-12 bucks a pop and have you noticed how small the packages are?
   
2. Easy to use. Just rinse them and throw them in the washing machine.
3. Do you see how cute Chloe looks in one? :) Sorry, I'm biased.
4. You're saving the environment from more unneeded un-biodegradable material in our landfills.
5. Chloe is unhindered and un-bulky (forgive me if that's not a word) in her cloth diaper. She can swim around easily and without a huge diapery bottom to weigh her down.
   

Cons

1. If you are not swimming at home, you'll have to take the used cloth diaper home in a plastic bag. Rinsing a poopy diaper away from home is never fun either.
2. I've been able to find at least 3 pairs of cloth swim diapers cheaply but you may not be able to. If you pay retail for them you'll pay at least $10.
3. Cloth swim diapers don't last for unlimited hours as most disposable diapers do. Disposables pull the liquid away from your baby's bum so that she can wear them for a long time before feeling wet. Not so with cloth diapeys!
4. Some public swimming pools have strict rules about what babies/toddlers must wear in the pool. Some mandate disposable diapers.

Cost is a huge factor for us so it outweighs everything else. Please don't think I'm one-sided in this debate either; I realize that every family and home have very different factors to consider.

So, there you have it. Let the debate rage! What do you use for your child?

Strawberry Ice, Ice Baby

One of our cool treats in the summer time is homemade fruit ice. I got this super easy recipe from a parent's mag last summer and it's a keeper! You don't have to use strawberries (though that's my favorite); use anything you have handy. The only trick is the fruit MUST be frozen. You can just use bagged frozen fruit or cut up your own fruit and then freeze it yourself.

We've only done the strawberry and watermelon ice. If you try any of the other fruit flavors, let me know how they turn out.

Enjoy!


Fruit Ices

1/2 cup each, sugar and water
2 Tbs. lemon juice
Fruit of your choice (see options below)

1. If you're not using bagged frozen fruit, freeze chopped fresh fruit on a plastic cutting board or a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. (I like to use a piece of waxed paper on the baking sheet and spray that with cooking spray - makes for easier clean up).
2. In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil, then boil until sugar is dissolved. Let cool; stir in lemon juice. Place frozen fruit in food processor and puree while slowly adding sugar syrup.
3. Transfer to container or ice-pop molds and freeze, or eat soft. (You don't have to use popsicle molds, we just use a tupperware container and it works fine).

Fruit:
5 cups strawberries (or one 20 oz. bag of frozen berries)
3 cups sliced peaches (or one 10 oz. bag of frozen slices)
2 cups blueberries (or one 16 oz. bag frozen berries), plus 1 large banana
4 cups diced watermelon
1 cored fresh pineapple (in the container, core removed)
4 cups seedless green grapes
4 cups diced cantaloupe
4 cups diced honeydew

Just like daddy

Lately Chloe's been a daddy-copycat. She wants to paint like daddy, water the flowers, and assemble things. Don't worry though, Matt's paintings look much better than Chloe's . . .



























Check me out, four brushes at once! Am I a pro or what? (Btw, empty an egg carton makes for a PERFECT paint container).






















As Matt assembled a new fan for Chloe's room, Chloe watched closely and assembled her own creation . . .

















Let's see if I put this on top of the water bottle and then add the cheese grater . . . yes, I think that will do it!

Chloe and her new kitchen

Well, it's happened. My husband has banned me from shopping at yard sales for the rest of the month. Waaaaaahhh! Before you think he's a tyrant, let me explain my latest yard sale escapade this past Saturday which turned out to be very expensive . . . . .

Matt gave me $10 to blow on yard sales on Saturday. I was pumped! After all, ten bucks can go a long way at well-priced sales. We blew most of the ten bucks at little sales picking things up here and there (including a very nice pair of summer sandals for Chloe and a doll baby stroller).

Then we hit the jackpot. We found a huge neighborhood sale in Silver Lake Village. It's a well-to-do area and seems like everyone was selling kids' stuff! Among other things, I found a kitchen set in great shape as well as a practically new winter gymboree coat for Chloe (let's just hope she doesn't grow out of it by the time winter arrives).

The kitchen is so perfect for our little play space and Chloe loves it. It has lots of shelves and doors to open as well as a little knob for the stove that makes noise as though the teapot were boiling. It also has a little baby seat for her baby and a Chloe-size chair. I think Chloe's favorite part about the set is the teapot. She's constantly putting it under her faucet to fill it, boiling it on the stove and pouring it out. So adorable!

What good deals have you found at yard sales lately?
















Making tea for baby.

















Microwaving food and serving her beloved panda.

Pregnancy aversions

So far I'm not complaining about the first trimester with baby #2. It's been great though I've been extraordinarily tired and hungry. Thankfully though, I have the luxury of taking an afternoon nap with Chloe most days. Yeehaw for being a stay-at-home mommy!

Lately I've noticed my first real nausea-creating aversions. Yesterday I made a huge pot of 15 bean and ham soup and I was really excited about eating such a protein-packed entree for dinner. Well, I sit the soup mug down in front of me and I just about got sick. The smell, color, and look of the soup was making me nauseated. Instead I ate lots of fresh veggies and a few rolls for supper.

Aversion #2 is a smelling one. We hang our used towels up in our bathroom when we finish showering. Not a big deal, I'm sure most of you do that. That way our towels air dry and we can use them a few times before we wash them. Yesterday I pulled one of these "used" towels over to dry myself and the aroma of wet towel turned my tummy and started me to gagging! I noticed the same thing this morning as I went to wipe off the kitchen counter with a dishrag. The wetness smell lingering on the dishrag sent me into gagging fits.

Here's a fun question for the pregos out there: What smells or foods are turning your tummies these days? Or if you aren't pregnant now, what strange aversions did you have in the first trimester of a past pregnancy?

Hot days in Ohio

Yesterday the temperature reached 91 degrees here in northeast Ohio! The humidity was high also so it was a perfect day to cool off in the fountains downtown. We met Chloe's library friend Kylea (she's the one pushing the wagon in the photo at left) and the girls had a ball getting wet and playing "together". They're both so funny together. They each get very excited about seeing each other - Chloe said Kylea's name repeatedly yesterday morning in anticipation - but when they're actually together they kind of ignore one another! Classic parallel play as talked about in child development books.




















Chloe was content to let the girls push and pull her in the wagon. She looks like a queen in her carriage!

















Chloe looks goofy in this photo because she's in the middle of talking. Last night we had to stay inside because of some thunderous thunderstorms so we played school with all her animal friends. She got quite a kick out of it!