One Word Quiz

The One Word Quiz---it's fun and a remarkable way to procrastinate while still feeling productive.

USING ONLY ONE WORD
Not as easy as you might think! Now forward, change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers. Be sure to send back to the person you received it from!


Where is your cell phone? pocket
Your significant other? computer
Your hair? ponytail
Your mother? Valpo
Your father? Yelling
Your favorite thing? Claire
Your dream last night? Nadda
Your favorite drink? Fuzzy-Navel
Your dream/goal? Lots
What room are you in? Claire's
Your hobby? Blogging
Your fear? Kidnappers
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Dunno
Where were you last night? bed
Something that you aren't? illiterate
Muffins? Blueberry
Wish list item? Housekeeper
Last thing you did? Nursed
Your pets? None
Friends? Yes
Your life? busy
Your mood? grumpy
Missing someone? no
Drinking? calories!
Smoking? 4losers
Your car? garage
Something you’re not wearing? diapers
Your favorite store? Pfaltzgraff
Your favorite color? purples
When is the last time you cried? dunno
Who will resend this? Claire :)
Where do you go to over and over? Facebook
Five people who email me regularly? More
My favorite place to eat? Italian
Favorite place I'd like to be at right now? Beach
Four people I think will respond? you, you, you, and you

Here's what you are supposed to do...and please don't spoil the fun...Hit 'forward,' delete my answers, type in your answers and send it to a bunch of people, including me.

Memorial Day Picnic

We had an impromptu gathering on Memorial Day with our neighbors. Josh made burgers and brats on the grill. Anja made a fresh green salad and I made pasta salad. Yummers!
Claire likes to say "Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesse!!!!!!!!!!" when I get out the camera. Observe:

Baby Foreskins used in Medical Products

Wow is all I could say....read this: http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2009/05/28/babies-foreskins-used-to-make-cosmetics-is-this-ethical/ They are using baby foreskins in medical products, yet parents are paying to have them removed...wow...I don't even know what to say to this. Of course, we never had to make this decision with Claire but I would never have a boy circumcised after reading this book called As Nature Made Him about a botched circumcision. I'd highly recommend reading this book. It is very eye-opening

I have read a few blubs about people trying to get circumcisions renamed to "penis reduction surgery" because that's really what they are. What do you think? I would advise anyone who insisted on having one done, to not do it in a hospital do it, but have a Jewish official who has done several to do one at your home...after breastfeeding is established, of course!

My Pursey!

Claire is in love with her little Pursey that she got from Oma and Opa for Easter. She takes her little treasures in it everywhere we go.
These are the bottoms of her new Stride Rite shoes. She had a ball at this play area!

Claire puts on necklaces and hats everyday. She had her purse in her right hand, but you can't see it in this shot. She LOVES her accessories! Oh, and she picked out these sparkly shoes herself...I'll try to post a closer shot of them soon!

In her pursey (that is what she calls it) she carries her cell phone, a little book (she loves little books), a rock from the park, stickers she has collected, hair thingys, and other little toys. I have to try to clean it out as she will often tuck something in there like an animal cracker or other food items. Also having been found in there are chives, dandelions, and grass from our yard. It's pretty funny what she wants to put in there. If she can't get it in because it's too big she will push on it dramatically screaming, "FIT! FIT!"

Biking along the Canal

On Sunday, we took a totally impromptu late-afternoon bike trip with our neighbors around the canal area:

Josh was a great sport and wore the diaper bag backpack for me!

Tante Anja and Claire! Claire loves her pink Princess Helmet, of course! I got this bike seat at a garage sale for only $5. YAY! They are $50 plus brand-new!

It was a good time, but there were too many people and dogs to have a good fast steady ride. I had to stop several times.

Here we are hiding the kids, but they were there...

Ahh! Here they are! Sophia has the same exact helmet as Claire and Amelia has cute panda one. I need to find a nice helmet for myself now!

It was the first time I'd been around that much of the canal area. I would not advise riding bikes though...too busy! It would be much better just walking or MAYBE rollerblading...but that's almost faster than biking, but you take up less room. We had a great time and didn't even get rained on. Anja rented a bike from the kiosk by the State Museum, and it was a really nice one.

Pretty Pigtail

Claire doesn't like me to put bibs on her very often...once in awhile she won't notice that I put one on her, but she can rip them off now pretty easily since they just Velcro.
Yay! She has enough hair for a little rubber band!

I love this little grin. It says "I'm up to something!"

She has taken to carrying her stroller around. She also likes to sit in in it. This was a mistake to let her, as it ripped off the frame...

But I managed to sew it back together in about 10 minutes. I am proud of myself! :) Haha...most of my sewing consists of mending...which isn't very fun AT ALL! Claire also loves to play with the buckle. She can shut it, but not open it as it requires a pretty hard squeeze. She will say "Mommy help op(en) buck(le)!" She is quickly getting more and more complicated and longer words in her vocab that she simplifies so that only I or someone around her a lot can recognize. It's funny when she correctly repeats something that I wouldn't expect her to say, recently she started saying "Normal" and "annoy"... it's very cute!

She is now 22 months old! We have had a very busy week with my friend Anja (pronounce it with a soft "J" so you would say it Anya). Monday we went up to the Fashion Mall and had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. I also picked up a couple cute new nursing bras at Mimi Maternity. I was asked if I wanted to sign up for their mailing list. I was like, sure...but guess what...it's going to mostly freebies and coupons from a major formula and disposable diaper company. I don't understand this. They are sabotaging their own business as they sell tons of cute nursing tops and ALL of the bras sold in most maternity stores like this one are always ALL nursing ones. And they also sell the pads and creams that go along with nursing...so why would they want to take a little kick back from a formula company and lose out on potential business! CRAZY! Or are the formula kick backs really that good...no wonder the stuff is so pricey...it's all the free stuff they give away...I don't have a problem with the formula itself if it is truly needed...my problem is with the heavy and aggressive marketing ... and to a maternity clothing store...how truly truly sad. :(

Then Monday evening, Anja and I headed to the Castleton LLL meeting. Anja enjoyed it too as there was some discussion of premature infants, which she was. I wish I had time to write a full summary of every meeting as there is always a lot of good advice shared. Every meeting is so different and I always learn new things. For example, I learned that infants don't usually develop a sucking reflex until 36 weeks. A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks. So if a baby is born premature, nursing will be more of a challenge for a variety of reasons, including the sucking reflex not being fully developed. The topic was also advantages to breastfeeding. We were asked to share something that was advantageous to us personally. I always enjoy what other mothers have to say. It wasn't at this meeting, but at another one, I will always remember the comment someone (I don't remember exactly when...they blend together...) but sometimes a comment sticks out sooo much in your mind you keep hearing it again and again. The comment was "I hated nursing a newborn, but I love nursing a toddler." I would have to agree. I remember the first time Claire asked for "nummies" by using the word...it was sooo awesome and full-filling.

Anyway...Tuesday we did some local shopping at 2 of our consignment stores...trying to help Anja find a formal gown for a fall wedding. No luck yet! Then we also took a walk around the neighborhood and then played with chalk and bubbles in the driveway. Then we decided to take a bike ride to make sure the bikes were good to go.

Wednesday we rode to Riley Park and had picnic there with some other Moms Clubs gals. It was fun, but too hot, even in the shade. So we left early. I was happy to get moving on the bike and feel the cool wind. We even scored a big dollhouse for Claire at a garage sale for only 5 bucks...furniture...I think it's a Little People one. Claire loved seeing all the ducks and geese and there was a baby family with 12 little babies! Wow...imagine trying to keep track of that many at once! Luckily Anja is talented and was able to carry the dollhouse back on the bike...Germans are used to this kind of thing! We also went to the dollar store. Only Americans would think it's a good idea to import cheap crappy things. They do not have dollar stores in Germany.

Thursday I paid 25 bucks for the copay to find out Claire had a callous on her toe. Ha. I was thinking she had a fungus or something. Well...we went to Payless...she measure her a 7. SO I bought her a 7.5 pair of tennis shoes. Then we went to the park near our house again on bikes after a nice lunch with one of my LLL buddies Ally who was in the area. Anja makes kick-butt salads and dressings. Claire loves the slide at the park and can climb up the ladder alone!

Friday, we headed to the Castleton early...10 am and ended up staying all day...I found Claire some sunglasses at the Disney store on sale for only 2.99. I also had her feet measured at Stride Rite...she was an 8....wait...yeah...Payless and you get less. Ugh. So I found her a cute pair of shoes at Stride Rite ON SALE. ( I NEVER pay full price for anything except food...) They have a great play area at the Castleton Mall. Claire had a ball, but has some issues with sharing. She wanted the slide to herself...so we also spent some time letting her play in the stroller cars. They are 5 bucks to rent, but you only get ONE buck back when you return it. Ugh. I also got some awesome organic tea from Aveda. Anja had been looking for a formal while I had been letting Claire have fun pushing her stroller around the big hallways and run around. I also popped into a picture store recommended by my friend Christy and had a free sitting done. I even got a free 10 by 13. I didn't buy anything, but it was awesome! We finally headed to Trader Joes because we were looking for Rocket Salad or Argula which is SORT of like Basil for a recipe Anja wants to make. Did you know that Trader Joes and Aldi are German companies...well they are...and that's why they rock...the only reason, I'm sure ;)

Today we got up early and exchanged some lightly worn shoes at Payless to the correct size. Man. She measured a 6 in Jan for getting fitted for Holly's wedding shoes. UGH. And then hit up the rummage sale at our church. It was fun to look, but I didn't find anything. Sometimes, one person's trash is another person's treasure, but sometimes, it's still trash...and it makes people wonder why you think you could get money for selling it...but anyways...then we went to Wal-Mark so Anja could buy an Ipod here, as they are cheaper here. She also got some peanut butter as this is truly an American thing and some deodorant which they make stronger here...I'm sure it's also more toxic. I use Mitchum clear gel...what do you use?

We were invited to three BBQs this weekend...and took the easy way out by not going to any. Sorry guys :( I'm beat...we're probably going to watch a movie now...yay for A/C and technology. :)

Taking a Hike

Claire has even had a nap in her new wagon!
She also loves this little pull-toy doggy. She enjoys pulling it behind her.

We enjoyed a nice long walk late last Sunday. It was still cooler out...very different than today!

Claire also enjoyed trying to pull the wagon, but it was very heavy for her!

They even have a drinking for doggies on the trail...how cool is that...

This trail used to be an old railroad. It's nice and smooth because of that!

Explain this to me? What is slowing to what?

AKA...if your dog craps...clean it up!!!

Daycare Bad

Interesting tidbit about daycare: http://babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2009/05/20/they-say-moms-it-s-still-your-fault-well-yours-and-daycare.aspx Hmm...

A Strawberry Sweet for my Sweetie

Never ever plant mint near a door...observe below. I have already ripped it up twice this year. Ha...we'll show that mint who is boss. We are going to take a Bobcat to this area and put in a nice patio soon. Claire found the perfect seat that is just her size:
It looks like she is scolding someone with this pointing like that:

I love this dress! Awesome! I love the layered look...so many great looks in one!

She likes hats...especially this Barbie one, but it doesn't cover her ears...

Baby's First Sunburn...

Oops. Claire got a little pink from being outside so much on Sunday. And hot sun. Luckily, it was cooler, so she just had her face exposed. She started out with a hat in the shade as Daddy grilled steaks for everyone:

But then the sun moved...it seems to do that all the time...

And by the end...she was hatless and in full sun...

Then she wanted to get in her wagon!!!

She took a nice long walk with Opa around our neighborhood!

Claire was enjoying being pulled around by everyone!

Claire's New Wagon

My parents came down to visit us late Saturday and brought a wagon. Since Claire was already asleep, it was a good time to get all the parts out and put it together. It's for her 2nd birthday which isn't until later this summer, but she can start enjoying it now, and boy has she!

My idea of helping was staying out of the way. I think I did a good job. Observe:

They did a great job, except the handle was installed upside down, but was quickly flipped around. This is a pretty fancy one that can store the long handle underneath.

We decided to have Anja try it out. This was good. If it didn't fall apart for her, it would be no problem for little Claire! :)

Fascinating

I think this kind of stuff is fascinating: http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2009/05/19/top-10-pregnancy-and-birth-world-records.aspx

Stupid Drunk Parents

What parent gets drunk with less than a three month old...(ok, let alone at all...I missed the "drunk-is-fun-stage/gene") but seriously, how awful. Read this: http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2009/05/18/city-s-5th-co-sleeping-death-in-10-weeks-reported.aspx Sometimes it makes me wonder if these were cases of severe PPD (post-partum depression) gone wrong and they were "accidentally" sleeping on their kid.

Of course if it was PPD, it was an accident...but who with a child to take care of gets drunk to the point of not being able to feel a lump of child under them. Think of it like laying on a pillow in the wrong spot. Seriously...um...don't their children have bones?

This is what gives bedsharing/co-sleeping a bad name. And it makes me sooo sad because some people that want a child can't ever have one. And then people like that go and breed...

Posing for Pictures!

Here is Claire with another barrette! She is getting used to them! I love this dress, and especially the matching sweater! These are the shoes that she wore for Holly's wedding, but I'm afraid that she won't be able to wear them again. They left red pressure marks on her feet when I took them off, so I think they are too small already. :(

Claire is in love with Anja. She asks for Anja first thing in the morning!

Aww. To bad we didn't live closer together. Claire has already picked up a few Deutsch words!

She didn't want me to hold her...she wants to run around when we are outside or go see Anja! I think all of her growing has been done in her legs. They are really long!

Jeff and Jessie's Wedding Reception

There was yummy HOMEMADE almond cake, which Claire enjoyed thoroughly. It was pretty much the only thing she ate on Saturday!

Here are Jessie and Jeff enjoying their first dance as a married couple.

Anja posing for a snapshot! :) Cheese!

Dancing at the reception.