Creature Bug

Normal Day

Today was a normal day. I made breakfast. I folded clothes. I went to the lighting store, to Lowe's, to the grocery store. I nursed a baby.

I ate my mom's rhubarb pie fresh from the oven. I told a story that my dad tried to ruin by telling the punchline mid-way through my story.

I walked over to Sarah's to see the progress on their basement. I ate peas from her garden and then waffles Jason made for dinner. I talked Jules down (up?) from a meltdown, talked with Sydney about VBC, convinced Addie to go to sleep in her crib.

I folded more clothes, watched the results show for So You Think You Can Dance, edited some photos.

Normal day.

Today's normal meant Jason got paid. It's what normally happens on the last day of the month.

Last June 30th there was no paycheck. It was the new kind of normal we had learned to live with for the school year. We had found out he would have a job for the new school year, but he didn't get paid for the summer.

Last year, a normal summer day meant we enjoyed it with my Uncle Don. This year we won't.

Last year, normal meant a family of four. This year, normal means Sydney, Julianne and Adelynn.

Normal days are ever in flux, but we know when we don't have them. Sometimes we are lucky enough to experience the elusive Amazing Day--the day we get married, the day we have a baby, go to Hawaii, get a job. Sometimes, though, normalcy slips through our fingers with a phone call, a flat tire, a fire, a broken heart. And we wish we could wind back the clock to when everything was normal again.

"Normal day,

let me be aware of the treasure you are...

Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,

or bury my face in my pillow,

or stretch myself taught,

or raise my hands to the sky,

and want, more than all the world, your return." --Mary Jean Iron

Today was a normal day. And I was thankful.

12

One of the things on our to-do list for the summer is to get Addie on a good sleeping schedule, and preferrably sleeping in her crib. Even though I don't mind co-sleeping, for a variety of reasons it seems to have run its course (partly because she wants to nurse all night long, making me a very tired mamma; and partly because the other girls never remember to be quiet when they come wake us up in the morning, which leads to Addie waking up in the morning, which leads to grumpiness all the way around). At the very least, Little Miss has to learn to take naps in her crib because now that she's fully mobile that's the safest place for her.

When it comes to sleeping, Addie does not like her crib.

At all.

And she'll tell you that; you don't even have to speak Baby to figure out she doesn't think her crib is for sleeping.

She'll play in there. She'll sit in there. She'll even lay down and tell long and imaginative stories in there. But sleep?

Hardly.

She'd rather sleep just about anywhere else. My arms. Her swing. The Ergo. A blanket outside on the grass. Probably her first choice for naps is in her carseat because that's what she's used to. During the school year, her nap schedule was determined by my commute. She'd nap on my way to class; she'd nap on the way back. On the days I didn't teach, I just did errands during her napping hours. She's so used to sleeping in her carseat she won't even fuss much about it. At naptime, I put her in there, and she falls asleep.

But it's time to make the switch and get her used to her crib, at least for some of her sleeping. And since Jason and I trade off days to sleep in during the summer, then now is the time to figure it out. Because once the school year starts up again, I'd rather not be doing the sleep deprivation act.

I was hoping those stuffed animals would give Addie a good pep talk about sleeping in her crib. We'll see.

PS: Of course, I don't let her sleep with all those animals in the crib with her. It was just for the photo. And the pep talk.

PPS: For more of Addie's Numbers, click here.

7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 9)

 

: 1 :

Local strawberries are finally in season, and oh boy oh boy oh boy, are they good. It's like eating candy, they're so good.

Feeling as though I should do something with the flat that I bought (other than just eat them), I made 10 jars of strawberry freezer jam with them. It's my very first time EVER making jam, and it was so easy.

Aren't they pretty?

Even Jules, who does not like jam or jelly, declared it quite delicious. The jam is probably a little bit on the *too sweet* side for me, but that's fine.

I'm trying to decide if I should make more jam, but Sydney and I are the only ones who will consistently eat it. So. Maybe 10 is enough.

: 2 :

Jason and I finished watching the British series "Downton Abbey." It was quite good, and I'm looking forward to watching season 2 when it comes out in the fall. As an aside to anyone who has watched it: I hope and pray my three girls are not like the three sisters in Downton Abbey. The oldest two are such wretched creatures to each other, aren't they?

: 3 :

For Father's Day, I got Jason a 60 pound heavy bag (kinda like this one). He and his dad put it up in the basement, and as far as exercise equipment goes, I think it's awesome.

I go down there and punch it and kick it and feel very tough, indeed. I am not tough. But in my mind, I am a secret ninja crime fighter (I almost typed "assassin" and realized that even in my mind that would be a stretch).

Pow!

: 4 :

Even though I still have two more months of vacation, I couldn't help but look online to see how many students have signed up for my classes in the fall.

I was relieved to see that I have enough students in both classes that they won't be in danger of being cancelled. Whew! My life as an adjunct lives on. The economy may be bad for K-12 education, but it seems to be forcing plenty of people into college, even moderately expensive private universities like the one I teach at.

: 5 :

We went to the Oregon Zoo today. Although I don't have much to compare it to, I think the Portland zoo is quite excellent. They seem to work really hard at making the the exhibits exciting and educational.

We haven't been to the zoo since Christmas, and so today was the first time that Sydney was confidently reading all the signs and animal facts. It was so much fun watching her enjoy the zoo as a reader. I get such a kick out of seeing her read.

: 6 :

After a suggestion from Jason's mom, we decided to go red dye-free for Jules (specifically Red Dye #40). Though I will eventually write up a longer post about this, it seems to have made a difference in her mood swings. Do you know how many things have red dye in them? A lot. There are the obvious culprits like fruit snacks and popsicles, but then there are less obvious things. Toothpaste! Mouthwash! Children's medicine! Yogurt! Gum! Doritos!

Twice this week she accidentally got some red dye, and we could definitely tell. I've been researching other food/coloring additives that might cause mood swings in kids, and it may end up that we'll just start avoiding them all. Fortunately, Jules is totally on board, so that's good.

: 7 :

I'm rereading Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series. I've forgotten how clever it is. Such a fun read! Sometimes I feel like there are too many wonderful new reads out there that I don't have time to reread books. But then I remember that nobody is the boss of my reading habits and I can do whatever I want. Take that inner English teacher who wants to assign myself some ridiculous summer read like Anna Karenina!

Have a fabulous weekend! Make sure you get outside and get some fresh air. It'll do you good.

For more Quick Takes, click here.

Big Island Recap

The luggage is back in the basement. My sunburn has peeled away. My photos were edited, oh, last week sometime. I keep thinking I need to write a little something about my trip to Hawaii, and since summer is moving right along (we had our one day of sunshine on Tuesday; that seems to be all we're getting), I better put down the highlights of the Big Island before I move on to writing about this island.

I love Hawaii. Oh, how I love it. I've been to Oahu once, and Kauai three times. I'm not sure I would have chosen to visit the Big Island except that my cousin has a house there, and her generosity in letting us stay there allowed us to vacation relatively inexpensively.

Now that I've been to the Big Island, I would absolutely go back. Did you know it has 12 of the world's 14 climate zones? Did you know it has two of the best beaches in the US? Yep, there's tons to do there, though we didn't do much since our primary objective was to just relax (plus we had Addie, plus Megan is pregnant). By the way, if you're thinking of taking a trip there, I highly recommend getting Hawaii The Big Island Revealed. We used it while we were there, and it's a great guidebook. Lots of our finds were because of the book.

In order to keep myself on track, in no particular order, here's my Top Ten Favorite Things from my trip.

1. Golf carts are awesome.

Even though we rented a car, my cousin has a golf cart at the house that can be used all over the resort property. We have a golf cart here on the farm (two actually), but if there is such a thing as a tricked out golf cart, this was it. Turn blinkers, radio, headlights, windshield wipers, seatbelts--a totally awesome ride. And we got plenty of "sah-weet ride!" comments from people. We used it to zip around to the grocery store and beaches and restaurants, and Addie loved it.

2. When in doubt, just go to the beach.

The house is in Kulalani on the Mauna Lani Resort property (click on the link to get an even better photo of the beach), and there is a special beach just for residents. No beach in Hawaii is private, but this beach was certainly not crowded.

We hung out there a couple days, ate at the restaurant twice, and always felt good knowing that we had a default location to hang out at if we needed one.

We did see a non-sandy beach our first day. Addie got her toes in the water. Touching the Pacific Ocean milestone? Done. June 1.

She didn't like it much. Too cold.

We also hung out at Hapuna Beach, and it was the quintessential Hawaiian beach. Long stretches of sand, lots of families playing in the surf, gorgeous blue water. So fabulous.

We'd walk around, eat snacks from the cooler, and talk and talk and talk. I don't think Megan and I could ever run out of things to talk about!

3. I love palm trees.

I kept wanting to take pictures of palm trees and then realizing that, of course, how many pictures of palm trees does a person need? I want one though. In my yard. Is that too much to ask?

I love everything about palm trees except the possibility of having a coconut fall on my head. That sounds risky.

4. If I ever competed in an Ironman...which will be never.

The weekend we were there, a neighboring resort was hosting a Half Ironman. We happened to be out and about on the day the race happened, and so we saw the cyclists (as we headed out to breakfast), and then saw the runners as we were zipping around the golf cart exploring the area. We did our cheering duties as we zoomed past them, and suspected some of the organizers thought we were odd because we accidentally kept going past the same checkpoint. (Yes, we're here. Again. Nevermind us. Just carting around like two non-athletes.)

It was fun to see such hardcore athletes, especially since Megan's hubby is competing in an Ironman in August.

In another stage of our life, we might be inspired by such dedicated athletes. In this stage of our life? We were happy to be watching rather than participating.

5. Hawaiian Farmer's Markets are just like Washington Farmer's Markets.

Except around here, no one sells fresh limes. Or lemons.

Or macaroons from local coconuts.

Otherwise, though, totally the same.

This little market was up in Hawi, and we thought we better sample some of the baked goods. We were not disappointed.

6. Take the road as far as it goes.

Though I'm sure most visitors to the Big Island make sure they check out the volcano, we weren't up for that. So, as we followed the road north, we bypassed the turn off to the volcano, and went to the end of the road instead.

We got an awesome view, and next time we go back maybe we'll do the hike down the mountain to the beach. It looked pretty cool.

Also cool?

On our drive, we found the original King Kamehameha statue. There's one in Honolulu, but this is the original one that was shipwrecked on its voyage to Hawaii. A replacement was made, but then the first one was salvaged and put in a little town on the north coast. It's very...statuesque.

Also along our drive? A great restaurant: Bamboo. Yowzah. Good food.

7. Smoothies.

We had smoothies in the morning. Smoothies in the afternoon. Smoothies for dinner.

Pina colada was the hands down favorite, and we fear we won't find any as good around here.

8. The adventures of the non-adventurous.

So this wasn't the snorkling, zip-lining, hiking, horseback riding, surfing kind of vacation. We still saw cool things.

Ancient fish ponds.

Surfers.

Big trees.

Decorative toilet seats.

Oh yeah.

9. Babies don't ruin vacations.

They just change the pace a little.

Sure, we worked around nap times, and didn't exactly have leisurely meals. But all in all?

10. Favorite part of all? Girlfriends in Hawaii.

For months leading up to our trip, Megan and I would text each other.

It's 80 degrees in Hawaii.

One month until we leave!

24 hours until we're on a plane!

The whole time we were there, we could hardly believe we had pulled off this trip. Of course, we pulled it off because our husbands are AMAZING (and we got cheap airfare and didn't have to pay for lodging). Since Megan and I both love the sun more than a PacNWer realistically should, this trip was exactly what we needed. If only we had a tropical vacation planned at the end of every school year.

Sunshine. Smoothies. Sand beneath our toes.

We're thinking we should take this trip again in 5 years when we turn 40. Only in five years, I think we'll leave the kiddos and bring the husbands.

Can we wait five years until we're back in Hawaii?

At least we'll have the photos to keep us happy until then!

13

Can you believe the first day of summer is tomorrow?

As if in preparation and practice for the season, the weather was fabulous today. I'm hopeful that Mother Nature is ready to bring us sunshine for days on end. In fact, according to the weatherman weatherpeople weather forecasters (who, bless them, seem to be as accurate about predicting the weather around here as I am), it might not rain here for the entire week.

A week! Of no rain! Holy Moses. It's a Summer Miracle.

Jason's last day of school was today. I've readied my summer to-do list, and the towels, sunscreen and flip flops are hanging out on the front porch.

Summer is coming?

Bring it on.

Happy Father's (Birth)Day, Dad

Every few years, my dad gets to be the lucky guy whose birthday falls on Father's Day. This year is one of those years.

 

(Me with my dad, 1976)

Happy birthday, Dad! And Happy Father's Day! Everything I know about how to tell a joke I learned from you. And everything I learned about getting lost while I'm driving...I didn't learn from you.

My sister sent this video to my dad. A good laugh worth sharing.

 

14

Yesterday, I had plans to take a picture of Addie with 14 flags because yesterday was Flag Day. Hooray for the flag! It needs its own day, evidently.

Instead, I spent the morning at the doctor's office where Sydney received a nice summer celebration present: medication to treat her strep throat.

And for good measure, I had to walk out of her appointment in order to spare everyone the fun that is "the stomach flu."

What a way to celebrate Flag Day--strep throat and stomach flu (times two: Jason has it also, although since his seems to be 3% worse than mine (approximately), I get to be the designated parent). Good times.

So, the flag will have to wait until later in Addie's Numbers, and instead we have 14 spinning pinwheels and 1 very smiley baby. Fortunately, she's been very healthy. And she doesn't mind it if I lay on the floor reading a Boxcar Children mystery to Syd. I'm like one big jungle gym.

Happy (day after) Flag Day. If you haven't put out a flag for the summer, well, go ahead and do that. It'll look very festive and summery and make you feel patriotic.

Have Baby. Will Travel.

When Megan and I first started talking about a trip to Hawaii, I knew it meant taking Addie along because if I'm going somewhere for more than a few hours, then Addie comes along too. Even though Addie is a happy baby, flying with a baby to a tropical paradise is still flying with a baby, if you know what I mean. It means traveling with gear. The Ergo, stroller, car seat, a diaper bag packed with Cheerios and books, and a suitcase packed with diapers and wipes were essentials for me on this trip. (My only moment of panic was how I was going to get into the airport after being dropped off outside. Picture this: Addie in the Ergo, umbrella stroller under my arm, one hand holding the car seat, the other hand pulling a suitcase--with my carry-on bag perched precariously on top. I finagle my way through the rotating doors, and a little grandma (bless her) asks if she can help me. I let her carry the stroller.)

Traveling with a baby means highchairs at mealtimes, or if you didn't quite time it right, breastfeeding in that fancy beachfront restaurant. (But hey! at least we were eating AT a fancy beachfront restaurant where people are so happy to be in Hawaii they don't care what you're doing.)

 

It means finding creative ways to get through meals. Sharing the guacamole from your Hawaiian pork nachos might be necessary. Or discovering that napkin rings make great teething rings too.

Spending an afternoon shopping might involve strollers if it seems too warm to pack the baby.

Just so you know, in Hawaii, shoes are optional.

When traveling with a baby, you might have to find reasons to hang out a little while longer so that you don't put a baby who will fight you with her mighty healthy lungs if you even think about putting her back in the car.

Hanging out might involve smoothies.

And even after hanging out, traveling in the car with a baby who is used to having siblings entertain her may not be worth taking a picture of.

(Hence, no picture of screaming baby in the car.)

So, if at all possible, travel by golf cart instead. Preferably a sweet six-seater red one. You cannot go wrong with this baby.

Be sure not to pack your schedule too tightly. No one is happy with excess busy-ness. Hang out in the backyard. Zip around the golf course in your golf cart. If you're in Hawaii the time-zone change will have you leaping from your bed at 7 am, and compel you outside (in jammies, no less!) to appreciate the above 70 temps.

Traveling with a baby might provide you with lots of opportunities to talk to other people: people who are parents, people who are grandparents, people who love babies, people who feel some pity for you and your pregnant friend who are hauling very heavy luggage through the airport (bless the Hawaiian airlines guy who helped us with our luggage on our return trip). We encountered so many friendly people, and I think we can partially thank Addie for that.

And if your baby falls asleep in the car seat, and she does best taking her naps there, then by golly, you haul that carseat down to the beach and don't worry about what people say. Although, it should be worth noting that your biceps may hate you for the next two days.

It was worth it though. Because when Miss Baby woke up, I got this:

It was so much fun seeing my girl dig in sand, put her feet in the ocean, and taste her first pina colada. Now all my girls have been to Hawaii as babies, and that's a tradition I was happy to create.

Traveling with Addie may not have been the easiest thing in the world, but everywhere we went people were willing to help us. Of course, I didn't have to go far to get some help. Megan and Addie were best friends.

I know some people get nervous at the thought of traveling with a baby--and certainly it requires some work and creativity--but I like to travel. And if I have a baby, then she goes with me.

My little traveling buddy.

Just don't make her ride in the car too long, and she's happy as a clam.

15

I had intentions of blogging from Hawaii. I even lugged along the laptop for that very purpose. But...when it came down to it, I just didn't want to be spending much time in front of a computer screen. We were in Hawaii, for pete's sake. Can you blame me?

Every day we went to the beach. And every day we drank smoothies.

There's a reason Addie isn't smiling in this picture. All her life she has believed that milk is delivered to her at body temperature, and then suddenly this whole new world opens up. What's this? Cold milk that tastes like coconut and pineapple and bananas? Oh, Hawaiian Smoothie! Where have you been all my life? Yes, Baby Girl was hooked on smoothies, and in the above photo I had hidden the smoothie. She was two seconds away from smacking me in the face for taking it away from her. Seriously. 

It was a fabulous fabulous trip. I haven't yet managed to unpack my luggage--I've tried (unsuccessfully) to convince Jason we should all just go back and spend a couple weeks there, and then I wouldn't need to unpack at all--and today was spent getting caught up on grocery shopping and freelance jobs.

But before today slips into tomorrow, I thought I better introduce the next set of photos that will finish off Addie's first year.

(Sometimes I think I might have more photos of Addie than I do of the other girls, and then I go back and look at photos from Syd and Jules' first year and realize that it's about equal photo time for all the girls. Hooray.)

Megan and I tossed around several ideas of what to use for "fifteen," and ultimately settled on flowers. Because if there's anything that Hawaii does well, it's flowers.

Five yellow hibiscus, five pink hibiscus, and five white plumarias were the flowers we picked for Addie. The plumaria were blooming right outside the house, but the hibiscus we gathered from the community bushes. I would have felt guilty taking flowers from the neighborhood except that the bushes were loaded down with blooms and snipping a few off didn't put much of a dent in the supply.

It was a beautiful trip. More photos tomorrow.