Goodwill Outlet?

A Goodwill Outlet just opened up by our house. Really?! What is that, I wondered , all the reject stuff from Goodwill? Shouldn't they be shipping that off to a third world country? I went and checked it out today with my mom and came home with a few things for about $20. They sell things by the pound so the first 20 pounds are $1.39 a pound then 20-30 pounds is $.99 a pound. The furniture was pretty inexpensive. That little chair was $6. I am most excited about the vintage suitcase and the breadkeeper. The stool/end table or whatever you want to do with it is my mom's purchase. So it may or may not be a good deal depending on how heavy your items are. And I do think they round up on the poundage. But for today I am pretty satisfied with my finds.

DPP - Day 19

DPP - Day 16

Can you see a glimpse of the new painting we just got for our bedroom? Done of course by my favorite artist.

This is really getting ridiculous. I mean I thought about posting this yesterday, but I didn't get a picture. I even thought to myself, that would be really funny (ironicly) if it happened again tomorrow. It did. I must confess I am really not that great about washing my sheets. I couldn't even tell you how often I do it, it's just on an as needed basis or if the feel dirty. I am sure it happens about once a month give or take. But let me tell you, this past month is making the average go up to about twice a week. You see I have this adorable little baby who rarely spits up. I mean like never maybe once every other week. It's so infrequent and in such small amounts that I don't even bother with a burp cloth. Pretty nice right? If it happens I just use what ever is nearby, like a blanket or a baby sock, something belonging to baby (not a big man sock that would be gross) and it goes straight to the laundry.

Let me take you back to a week before Thanksgiving. That particular week I had to wash our sheets about every 2 days due to spitting up incidents. It has to be Murphy's law or something. Babies only spit up on clean sheets. Andy calls us Hotel Fogle. Well it hasn't stopped, there was a lull while we were out of town and we may have made it like 5 days in a row. This morning I was even prepared I had a receiving blanket ready to go. I set him on the bed so I could do something and as he was coughing up the morning drainage up came the breakfast. Lets just say these sheets have been washed at least 7 times in the last month. I bet you can guess what I am doing again today.

On a side note: despite looking like a little old man he also has an old man cough. This isn't new to the cold he always sounds like the old man with emphysema as he coughs. And right now when he cries he sounds like a baby terradactyl with his scratchy little voice. Kinda sad I hope he feels better soon. This video doesn't even give the cough justice

DPP - Day 15

I pretty much gave up on trying to do too much decorating this year. I finally just today took down my fall wreath and put up this fur wreath that I made a few weeks ago. Not nearly as cute as this lady's. I think if I could have found a better kind of fur it would have been a little cuter, and maybe better lighting for the picture, but that's what happens when Cade has been crying since 5 am, I don't have a chance to take a picture until the sun goes down. But at this point I am just glad to not have a cornhusk wreath hanging from the door.

DPP - Day 14

Today I showed Dane how to build a fort under the table. He loved eating his snack in there. At one point even the big furry dog joined us, probably because there was food involved. I also surprised him and shared some candy with with him in our secret hideout. Well later today of course he was begging for candy. I told him no and he walked away without a fuss and started playing. Then I hear 'mommy come here'. I finally tuned in and realized he wanted me to come back in the fort with him. I get down and crawled in and he looks at me with a big smile "candy?" Trying to recreate the right scenario for mommy to say yes.

DPP - Day 13

My view as my sweetie snoozes on my lap while I work on the computer. Right now I am the only one in the house not sick with the sniffles, and we have a fridge full of pink medicine. Ok, that would be a really small fridge if the 3 bottles made it full but you get the idea.

DPP- Day 12

Snow Day from church.

DPP- Day 11

Chicken Flautas- the yummy appetizer we brought to one of our Christmas parties. Made by my wonderful husband. He is an excellent chef!

Yeah I know I am day late but I tried.

DPP -Day 10

I was just digging through my pantry and it's worse than I thought. Count them. There are 8, yeah that's right eight cans of cream corn sitting in my cupboard. That is approximately 1/3 of all the cans I have in my pantry. There is only one recipe that we even use cream corn for and that is the Chi Chi's corn bread mix, and it is so not good for you even though it tastes amazing. How did we end up with this many cans of cream corn you may wonder. Well for the Fogle side Thanksgiving Andy wanted to make jalapeno cream corn. We stopped by the grocery store Andy dropped me off at the door and I ran in for a short list of groceries including 4 cans of corn. I knew he was making cream corn and the end cap had cream corn sitting right there easy to grab, no need to search, I loaded up my basket, grabbed a few other items and checked out. Mind you Andy's hand writing is also very difficult to decipher. So we got home hours later and are unpacking the groceries and Andy realized I had grabbed cream corn not canned corn. Funny how the roles seem reversed in this scenario. No big deal we would just send my sister and cousin out the next day to get some canned corn. They get back from the grocery store and surprise surprise they also returned with cans of cream corn. Andy finally just ran out himself and got the four cans of corn that he needed and the Hot Corn was delicious. Now what to do with the eight cans of cream corn?

DPP- Day 9

Poor Dane is still sick, but we were able to slip away to see Mary Poppins tonight. I had really wanted to go five years ago when we were in England, but we didn't go then and I had always regretted not going while we were there. A few highlights were the sign language interpreters signing supercalifragilisticexpialidocious as fast as the actors were singing and the nude statues dancing were an interesting twist.

So glad we had a night out, though I was so tired, I was fighting sleep most of the show.

DPP- Day 8

This is a picture of one awesome aunt who is willing to snuggle with a sick, runny nosed little boy. Things are starting to seem even more hectic and overwhelming than the first couple weeks home with a new baby. This has been a long couple of days with not a lot of sleep. I have even given up on finishing to decorate for Christmas due to lack freedom of movement without a child in tow.

DPP - Day 7

He saw the nurses coming in with the shots.

We had our 2 month well baby appointment today. He is growing big, 13 lbs 4 oz, up 5 pounds from his birth weight. I am already putting him in some 6 month clothes.

All I have to say is 2 months have gone by way to fast. He is already getting such a personality, I love all his smiles and giggles and coos ok, ok, I love him when he cries too and that seems to be quite a bit but we are working through it and his happy days make up for it. I wish I could just sit and hold him all day. If you have ever read "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" I would say he is the 'spirited baby' with a bit of the 'touchy baby' personality. I read this book when Dane was a baby and I really wish I would have made time to read it before Caed was born, or at least immediately after he was born. Maybe we could have headed off some these crying fits and misunderstandings sooner :o) He is just a boy that knows what he wants, and I love him for it.

DPP- Day 5

At least he can relax and seem peaceful, wish I could say the same for the rest of us. I had hopes of a quiet evening working on a project and catching up on some shows.

DPP- Day 4

So this odd picture is what Dane refers to as a 'mole'. When we first moved to this house in May he noticed the little screw covers on the banister, and immediately started calling them 'moles'. It makes me laugh. Earlier this week we were coming down the stairs and he said "uh oh mommy...mole". And he notice that the mole on the bottom step had gone missing. Well sure enough it turned up tonight in the bottom of his dirty laundry. Not sure how it got there.

I didn't take this last picture but look at that form. That boy loves to play ball

DDP- Day 3

My sister came over today and helped, ok made gingerbread men for me to take to a little get together I am going to tonight. She always seems to pop in on just the right day when I need an extra set of hands. Actually both of them do. The other one is on her way as we speak. And about the gingerbread men, I went with the glazed imperfection look. Glazed because I didn't have any of the ingredients on hand to make any other type of frosting. I need to go grocery shopping. And imperfection because that's as good as it gets right now. It bothers me, but I am trying to let go of my perfectionist ways for a while. I do have a 'not quite a newborn anymore' and a two year old that I need to enjoy. While I am envious of all of the cute crafts and Christmas goodies that I see being created (and ideas of my own floating in my head), I am just trying to be content with imperfection for a while, because that's my life right now. Too tired to be creative and too busy holding crying babies to sit down and try.

DPP - Day 2

DPP - Day 1

I completely forgot about the December Photo Project. I was just going through old photos and ran across last years pictures. I am by no means a good photographer but it was fun to remember to get the camera out and make sure I got plenty of pictures. So I will start off with my littlest elf for the Day 1 (for the record I really did take this picture yesterday).

And just for kicks here is my other little elf helping decorate the tree.

Cuteness

Same outfit, same seat, different baby

Can you guess who's who? I don't really think they look alike.

2 years

Dane's first 'growth' picture from when we was only 6 weeks old. Look how much he has grown.

As you can see it was next to impossible to get a growth picture.

Today we sat down to color together. We were having fun and next thing I know he leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Oh how I love that sweet boy.

Recently we have been reading Love You Forever. The endearing yet very creepy children's book how the mother sneaks in the boy's room at night and rocks him clear into adulthood. Dane loves this book, we taught him how sign I love you and then on his own he said "love you forever mommy" How sweet is he? I do crawl into his room every night and check on him, but can you imagine me doing that when he is married? I promise I won't.

He is one of the funniest boys I've met. He still loves to tease me. Last night he started calling me daddy instead of the usual mommyjenn. His other favorite thing to do is grab my phone from me and start pressing all sorts of buttons and say "texting china" Sometimes he even puts the phone to his ear and says "hi china, hi people".

He can also do some 'chores' now. He has been helping with the dishwasher and laundry for a while. But now he is tall enough to open and shut doors. So I can have him put the dog in the basement before we leave and then when we get home he lets him out again. What a good little helper. The other day I sat down to nurse Caed, got all situated and realized I was thirsty. I could see a half full glass of water sitting on an end table about 10 feet in front of me. I asked Dane to help.

Me: Can you do Mommy a big favor?

Dane -nodded and jumped up excited to help

Me: Can you bring mommy that glass of water, I am really thirsty....

Dane- confidently heads over to the table

Me: ..with out spilling?

Dane: stops dead in his tracks - "Nope"

I guess the orders got a little to tall for him. He knows his limits.

1 month (ok 6 weeks)

I got a late start on the growth pictures, but I think that happened with Dane also. Six weeks old today. Can you believe it? He has settled in quite nicely. I already can't imagine life without him. He is a sweetie pie, he had a fussy couple of weeks but I think we are figuring each other out.
Like now that I understand when you are really upset, and are fed and dry it means you just wants to be laid down and left alone. Ok now that we have an understanding, things are better. I also have realized you really don't like your sleep to be disturbed. So having big brother come up and scream "eyes open" in your face is really not helpful and usually ends badly.
It's probably about time to move you into your own room but you always wake up around 3am and have a hard time going back to sleep after you eat. Usually because you have all sorts of mucus choking you up, and being so little you don't understand how to sleep with your mouth open. I lay awake in my own bed trying to help you you breath and clear your throat.
I love all of your smiles and coos and I respect your need for space, though I could hold you all day long. You are growing so fast. I want you to stay small forever, but I am looking forward to seeing you interact with your big brother. I think he will be thrilled once you start playing with him.

Goodbye first car

and goodbye matching set. I thought it was fun that we had a set of black cars, but now we are mismatched again. Technically it wasn't even my car, my name wasn't on the title, though I was the main driver. So that means I have never even owned a car :o( Andy bought it brand new a few months before we were married. We logged all of the 128,000 miles on that Impala. Andy driving most of them because I am a happy passenger. We drove away from our wedding in that car. It moved us to Albuquerque, we moved it to Iowa - notice our stuff didn't fit in the car once we moved to Iowa. It drove both of our babies home from the hospital. We have drove all over the US in that baby. 128,000 miles of driving. many many trips to Colorado. Many fun vacations. I even rode in the trunk once. with a friend. good times. i think it was my idea. i know i am weird. there was room for one more too.Hello 4runner. Beautiful and silver, not black and probably won't need washed as often. (Does that mean our vehicles are now unequally yolked?) Last weekend Andy took off early early Saturday morning and drove to Georgia to pick it up and got home Sunday morning. That was a lot of driving I think about 27 hours worth. But it is worth it. We like it. I took her out yesterday. Dane thinks it's great. He even made sure to show me which door Caed should enter through and where he should sit.

P.S. I was going to post a picture of Andy and I from the party we went to on Friday night. We went as 80's rockers. Andy was complete with a mesh sleevless shirt, black tights, and combat boots. But I think that picture is best laid to rest, well I will keep it on the hard drive, you never know I might need to pull it out someday.

Smile

Caed has been smiling for about three weeks now and I finally caught a few little smiles on camera. I love those first smiles so quick and brief but so much fun! I can't believe is is 6 weeks old already.

Birthday Boy

It's official, he's two! Dane's birthday would not be complete without a picture of him in his birthday costume. No not his birthday suit but his birthday costume. Given his birthday is 10-31 I think it is only fitting he dress up every year. Though Des Moines does trick or treating (beggars night) on the 30th. Which is an entire rant all on it's own. It's just weird.

Anyway we celebrated Dane's birthday on Sunday, complete with a monkey theme. We had a very busy weekend being out of town so I was a little stressed out about making a cake. I was exhausted Saturday night but had to bake the cake anyway. It turned out gross looking especially the cupcakes. It has been forever since I made cake and it was only a box mix, and I had never tried one in my 'new' oven. I think they were over baked. I was going to toss them and start over but I was too tired so I decided to make it work. The cake turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. I just copied the idea from this website. They have many great ideas that seem pretty simple to pull off. All you need is a box mix, a can of frosting and candy. And yes I can make cake and frosting from scratch, but this was way easier given the time crunch.

We attended a pumpkin carving party last week. We decided to double up and use our carvings as decoration. We weren't trying to win any prizes, but we still won a sympathy prize for the most kid friendly pumpkins :o) We even won a prize that we wrapped up and used as a birthday present. I think it ended up being one of his favorite presents!

Here he is with all of his loot. It was hard getting him to sit still for a picture after all of the excitement of the evening. He kept going from toy to toy playing with each one for about 30 seconds while rotating in his all time forever favorite- a cheap ball from Walmart that we have had forever.

Food for thought

Interesting thoughts on prayerlessness.
Click on the link above.

Halloween Preview

This little monkey just cracks me up dancing around in his costume.

Friday Funday

This post is just a reminder to myself that we do have good days too. Thursday after my last post Caed pretty much cried off and on until 10:30 pm shortly after Andy got home. I am so thankful both of my sisters had decided to come over for the afternoon and evening and for friends that bring meals.

We had a fun time with our Moms Up a Creek group from church. Those wonderful girls helped watch Dane while I had to care for Caed. And the best part was Dane fell asleep in the car and slept until 4:15. I didn't do anything but sit on the couch and Caed hardly cried all day. It can happen. There are good days, and bad ones, but there wouldn't be good days with out the bad.