Monday, November 30, 2009

Cami, 1; Puke Stains, 0

HA!!! After three days of working on it, I got the puke stains out of our baby clothes. I now feel like an accomplished housewife. Nevermind that the kitchen needs to be swept and mopped, the basement family room is a disaster of kids' toys, and my bed is not made (rarely is, unless someone is coming to see the house). Those stains are gone!

First I pre-treated them with a diluted mixture of ammonia and liquid laundry detergent. I let that soak overnight. The stains were lighter, but definitely still there. (A lady I used to know swore by that formula, and said it took puke stains out of her stored clothes, but maybe she had some other trick that she didn't share.) So then I soaked them overnight in oxi-clean and the hottest water I could get out of my faucet. Again, they were lighter, but still there.

So here's the secret weapon: I soaked them overnight with Tide with Bleach, then ran a spin cycle. The spots were almost invisible after that. So I soaked them overnight again with the Tide with Bleach, and ran another spin cycle. Then I washed them, with Tide with Bleach, and they are now all beautiful and clean.

I'm so proud. And grateful for the soak cycle on my new washer, so I didn't have to sit and listen for the washer to fill, then run in and turn it off.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Things on my mind

It's been a week since I posted. Even though no big events have happened (still pregnant), I've had so much on my mind. So much, in fact, that it seems overwhelming to sit down and blog. So forgive the randomness of this post.

Lauren is scheduled to arrive in six days. I've made endless, detailed lists of all the things I need to do, make, pack, rearrange, etc., and I'm happy to say that I've crossed most of those things off my lists. I still need to get the car listed for sale, pack my bag for the hospital, and finish up a couple of gifts for the kids for Christmas. I was unpacking baby clothes from storage today, and noticed that a large number (like, half of them) have puke stains from Faith. Why IS it that they don't show up until they're stored? So now I have to go through and try to treat all those stains so we don't have to spend a small fortune on onesies and other essentials.

And speaking of treating stains and doing laundry, I had a load in the dryer and another in the washer earlier today, when I started catching whiffs of a burning smell. I tracked it to the basement, and when I opened the laundry room, it was full of smoke. After a quick moment of panic while I looked for flames, I realized that our washing machine motor, or bearings, or something, burned out. It's been pretty noisy lately on the spin cycle. Since I've had the washer for about seven years, and it was given to me by someone replacing hers with a new set, I'm guessing it's at least 10 years old. Jeff did some research online, and figured we are better off buying a new one than trying to fix the old one. So, off to Lowe's I went. Our new washer will be delivered on Friday, at which time I will attempt to clean the aforementioned stained baby clothes.

Does anyone have any great secrets to getting puke stains out? Particularly puke stains that have been stored?

*****
Of course, Thanksgiving is on my mind. We are having dinner this year with Jeff's extended family down in Draper at his Aunt Kathy's house. I signed up to bring three apple pies. I have a great pie recipe (thanks, Becca!), and planned to make them. But then I decided that I'm just too tired, and lazy, to peel all those apples, and especially to do all that pie crust. So I bought three Marie Callender pies. I feel a little guilty for being a slacker - I've never bought a pre-made pie in my life. But at $3.88 each from Macey's, I'll be a slacker and save myself the time and work. Sometimes it's worth it to pay a little extra money.

*****
This week ShopKo put up their version of the angel tree, where you choose a kid and buy Christmas gifts for them. Last year was the first year that we did it, and we decided to make it an annual tradition. Since with the baby coming, life will be a little more hectic during December, we went last night to do our shopping. It was kind of fun. Last night after the kids went to bed I went out to find the last couple of things. Let me just say, Ross is a great store.

While I was driving around, I just felt so grateful. For some time to myself. For the means to provide Christmas gifts for these kids. For my own kids. For Jeff. For my crazy, stressful life. For my job. For Michael eating one and a half plates full of spaghetti at Golden Corral. For my friends. For being almost done with Christmas. For my doctor, who was very kind yesterday even though he had so much going on. For my van (yes, I really do like it). For silence - no kids' music playing on the radio. For my ward. For my house. I'm really so blessed.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Movin' on up

Remember that old show The Jeffersons? I only remember the two main characters, and I remember the theme song. Movin' on up.... to the east side. The song has been stuck in my head for a couple of days.

Faith has "moved up" into a regular bed. For three nights now, she has slept and napped in the bottom bunk of Michael's bed. It's been interesting. When Michael moved into a twin, it took him about eight months to figure out that he could actually get out of it by himself. That was nice, because even when he woke up in the morning, he would stay in bed until I went and got him up.

Faith, on the other hand, lasts about 20 seconds in the bed before she is crawling out and coming to find us. I've had to lie down with her every time until she falls asleep. But I don't mind - I almost doze off myself, so it's a nice rest. Hopefully, though, she will soon start staying in bed without me there.

In other "moving up" news, we purchased a minivan yesterday. It's a 2005 Toyota Sienna. Jeff doesn't consider this a move up. He didn't want a minivan. But looking at how much it costs to insure an SUV, this was a better choice. (His truck, which is a 1999, is more expensive to insure than the minivan. Our 2002 car is also more expensive to insure, although not much.) It also has more room to grow while keeping the cargo space, which the SUV we considered really doesn't. Anyway, we are picking it up from the dealership today on our way back from Provo.

And why are we going to Provo? Jeff's grandpa died Friday morning, and the funeral is today. It was originally scheduled for yesterday, so I arranged to have the day off work and everything, but then it was changed to today. So the extra day off work was unnecessary, but it was still nice to have a little time to finish some projects and buy a minivan.

Projects. I have too many of them. I counted the projects that I MUST get finished before this baby is born, and yesterday I had 12. With the extra day off, though, I got four of those finished, so we're down to eight. But the remaining ones are going to take a LOT longer.

And just added to my list of things to do - sell our car. We didn't trade it in, because we owe just a little more on it than the trade-in value. So .....

FOR SALE:
2002 Chevrolet Malibu
79,000 miles
clean title, no known problems
asking $3500

If you know anyone who would be interested, send them my way!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Thankful Thursday

1. Ice water. I usually like the ice more than the water.

2. Black tie mousse cake from Olive Garden. Jeff and I went there for a short dessert-only date this evening, and it was yummy.

3. Fun craft shows where you find great ideas and a few great deals.

4. Mom, Mandi, Matthew and Abby visiting today.

5. Jeff. I love him so much.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Zoo

We took the kids to Hogle Zoo today. Jeff was off because of Veterans Day, and his parents came with us. It was a GREAT day to be there. It was overcast, but no rain, and the temperature was really nice. And even better, the place was practically empty.

The kids were awesome, too. Michael had a brief breakdown when the carousel stopped and it was time to get off, but after a little talk, he decided to be happy so he could have a chance to ride it again. And he was so good for the rest of the day. I was so proud of him. Sometimes I feel like he really gets that his attitude is his choice. Other days, not so much. But today, he definitely chose to be happy, and it was so good to see.

Faith was so excited to see all the animals, especially the monkeys. Every time she saw one, she started pointed and making monkey sounds. It was funny. She loved riding the carousel, seeing the cottontails, and eating Jeff's chicken strips for lunch.

Overall, we all had a great time today. I'm really glad we went. We honestly couldn't have asked for a better day together. We brought our camera, but didn't take a single photo. Jeff's parents, however, took plenty. I'll have to get copies.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Scheduled

Lauren will be born on December 1st at about 7:30 am. Jeff and I have to be there at 5:30 am. Yuck. This, of course, is assuming that I don't go into labor before then. I hope not. I want this baby born in December - which for some reason sounds so much farther away from Thanksgiving than November 30th does.

Unfortunately, because of hospital regulations during this flu season, Michael and Faith will not get to meet their sister until we bring her home from the hospital. I'm sad about that, but I do understand why they have that rule.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Primary Program

I don't know why I even try on some days. Our morning started out really well. We got to church on time, with both kids fed and happy. Michael knew his part for the program ("We can pray to Heavenly Father") and was excited to sing and speak in front of everyone. I was really looking forward to sacrament meeting.

But something happened between Primary and sacrament meeting. I saw Michael in the hall just before we went into the chapel, and he was pouting because his teacher had taken away his M&Ms. Apparently, they'd had a treat in Primary, but the teachers had collected all the M&Ms and told the kids they would hand them out again after the program. Makes sense, right? You don't want the kids eating chocolate during the program. But the little kids just don't understand that, I guess.

So he went into the chapel a little less than happy. Then he was asked to sit between Jacie and Ragan instead of between Jacie and Addison. I guess when they practiced, he had been by Addison, and he was excited about that. But when they changed it, he started to cry. His teacher brought him down to us and told us that he was a little emotional. I talked with him for a while, and then brought him back up to sit with his class. He started to lose control again, so I brought him back down to sit with us until the sacrament was over.

He went back up and sat in the empty seat when the sacrament was over, but he was not happy. His class was first up to say their parts. He got up and said, "We can booooooooooooooo." He didn't really say boo, but he mumbled so much that that's what it sounded like. I was ticked. It's not like he was hurt. He just didn't get his way, so he decided to be a pill. When the kids would stand up to go to the front and sing, he would shuffle so slowly that the kids behind him couldn't get to the front, and they were waiting forever to start singing. He was disruptive and disrespectful. Finally I'd had enough. I took him off the stand and out to the foyer, where he cried and cried and cried. I don't know what his deal was. But I was honestly considering a good spanking when we got home.

Fortunately for him, he cheered up considerably a little while later. So no spanking. But Jeff did make him go apologize to his teachers for his behavior.

I just don't know what to do with him sometimes. He frustrates me so much that I think if I don't get away from him, I'm going to kick him all the way to the car (or the house, or his room). But at the same time, I'm not willing to just give him whatever he wants to avoid his temper tantrums. Because life isn't like that. Sometimes you don't get your way, and you just have to suck it up and move on.

Yes, another day in the life of being Michael's mother. I really wish we didn't bring out the worst in each other.

Jeff's birthday

We really didn't do much for Jeff's birthday this year. We had planned to go to the zoo with his family, but his sister's family had to back out. Michael had received an invitation to a birthday party, and I was invited to my cousin's bridal shower, so we just bagged the zoo and decided to go this coming Wednesday when Jeff is off for Veterans Day.

Michael had a great time at the birthday party. They had rented one of those bounce houses, and he LOVES jumping, so he thought it was the coolest thing ever.

I went to the shower at my Uncle Sheldon and Aunt Vicki's home. I had a really nice time, and I'm glad I went. It was fun to see Bonnie and Jenny (wives of my cousins), and Judie and Linda (aunts), and of course Sheldon, Vicki, Shelley, and Sarah. It was a good experience for me, and in a weird way that I can't explain, it gave me a better appreciation for my extended family.

After the shower and party, Jodi took the kids while Jeff and I went to dinner at Applebee's. Then it was off to Jodi's house to pick up the kids and head home in time for me to go to work at the gym.

I had a good day. I hope Jeff did, too.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Why Mr. Buyer disappeared

Mr. Buyer found another house to buy. Apparently, he had offers in on more than one house, and rather than do the polite thing and just reject our counter-offer, he decided it would be better to just never get back to us.

From what I understand, he entered into the contract on the other house without the help of his agents - which understandably is upsetting to them. They did a LOT of work for him, especially when you consider that ours was at least the fourth house they had negotiated for.

I really hope he isn't the one buying the house around the corner. We might be saving our rotten tomatoes next year....

That's what Jeff says, anyway.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

A belated apology

My most astute readers will notice a small change to my Bucket List. I have now officially apologized to Ron Proctor for kicking his shins.

Ron Proctor was a kid in my sixth-grade class. I don't know why, but I used to go up to him and kick his shins for no reason. I was a real brat to him, and I've always felt bad about it. Well, Jeff, reading my blog and seeing the name there, searched for him online. Turns out, he is now a production something-or-other at the Ott Planetarium at WSU, and his e-mail address is listed on the website. So I sent an e-mail to "Ron Proctor the Shinless" (as Jeff calls him) and apologized. No, I did not call him "Ron Proctor the Shinless" in the e-mail. I'm sure he'll think it's totally out of the blue, and probably (hopefully) won't even remember who I am. But at least that's one thing off my bucket list that I've accomplished.

Oh, and I've learned that Tide with Bleach is very effective at keeping the whites white. Still working on some of those other stain issues, though.

No news is ..... no news

Hmmph. That's about all I can say about this buyer who put an offer on our home. We made our last counter-offer on Saturday, and he had until yesterday at 5 pm to reject, accept, or counter. Well, 5 pm came and went with no word. About 5:10, our agent called me and said that he had just spoken with the buyer's agents, and they hadn't been able to even reach him to present our counter-offer to him. So the deal expired at 5 pm, and that's that, I guess. They are still going to try to reach him, and see if he wants to accept it, but even if he does, we have no obligation to him.

So I'm thinking that he was in a crunch to close by the end of November because the first-time homebuyer credit expires then. But when he heard the news that the credit will most likely be extended until April, he decided to go off the grid and look for a better deal or something. Whatever. It's irritating, and I think it's rude of him to just not respond at all.

Halloween

I don't have any photos to post, but I just wanted to write about our Halloween this year. It was a really nice day. I ended up having to work (which was not the nice part, but I did get to go home early, so it wasn't too bad). Later in the afternoon we got the kids ready to go to Richard and Anna's house so they could see Michael and Faith in their costumes. The plan was to go down there, spend a little time, then come back home and go trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. Then I would go to work at the gym when the kids went to bed.

I think Michael must have been trick-or-treated out, though, because when it was time to leave Richard and Anna's house, he said he would rather stay there and play. We told him that if we stayed there, he wouldn't get to go trick-or-treating. He said that was fine, he wanted to stay. So we did, and I'm so glad. It was just so much better than getting more candy that he (and we) didn't need. The kids had a great time, ate dinner down there (Michael ate Anna's spaghetti), and played with Grandpa. And I didn't even feel bad about spending money on costumes that they didn't need that day, because both of them had already worn their costumes on three other days for different Halloween activities. I'm all for laid-back holidays.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

BIIIIIIG news!!

So this won't be big to most of you. But to Jeff and me it is. I'm at work today, and I got an awesome phone call from Michael. He informed me that.....

"I think I like raisins."

WHAT? Raisins? He hasn't eaten a raisin since, well, ever. I'm not sure he's ever eaten a raisin. But he told me that there is now a little tiny piece of raisin in his belly. He licked it and bit off a tiny piece, and he chewed it with his teeth, and he thinks he likes them. And then, as always, he ended his phone call very quickly with "Love you, bye!"

So Jeff got on and told me that Michael had asked to give some raisins to Faith. When he came back from the closet, he was chewing something, and he said, "Daddy, I think I like raisins."

Yes, my boy just ate a tiny bite of raisin. And the best part is that he did it ALL BY HIMSELF. No one even suggested that he try it. It was totally his idea.

Funny how a tiny piece of a shriveled grape can make me so happy today.

Faith's vocabulary

I just need to make a list somewhere of the words that Faith is saying - just so I can remember.

Daddy
Mama
Michael (she doesn't really pronouce "Michael," but I'm not sure what she says instead. She definitely means Michael, though)
yeah
fwy (fly)
fwower (flower)
buh-fwy (butterfly)
dee (drink)
ah-mah (amen)
kiss
apple
cheese
fishy
up
juice (she accompanies the word "juice" by one clap of her hands - don't know where that came from, but it's cute, and she does it just about every time)

There are probably a couple more, but I can't think of them right now.

She also makes animal sounds: cow, dog, cat, monkey, duck, rabbit (wiggles her mouth and nose), fish (opens and closes her mouth), sheep, and frog.

And she knows just about every part of her body. She loves feet, bellies, noses, and eyes. She hasn't quite got her shoulders, armpits, or ankles down, but just about everything else, she knows.

Anyway, I can't believe how much she's grown!