I Want Sleep

I just want to sleep. Why Reade's body thinks waking up every hour on the hour is good for anyone is beyond me. I have no idea how I am still functioning. We will be hanging out with family this weekend so I am going to have to wait until Monday before I can start some sleep training.

Our new craigslist walker. Another attempt at buying myself time so I can switch over laundry or empty the dishwasher. I am living the housewife's dream!

Clean

Why is it so hard to find time to bathe children? Why do I find it hard to find the time for baths? I throw my hands up to the bath Gods whenever my son jumps in puddles (from our neighbor's car wash of course) only hours after getting clean.

Soapy fun:

November 7th 2010

Skyla talked me into signing up for this. My goal is to run the whole six miles, but I will be okay with myself if I do have to walk a bit. Andrew is sticking it in as my coach (sorry for that initial resistance!) and I am proud to report that I ran close to three miles this morning. I didn't hate running the way I usually do and just maybe I felt my first runner's high. Anyone else going to join in?

Happy Birthday Skyla

We celebrated our friend Skyla's birthday yesterday. Our original plan was to have a picnic party outside of the Gilroy skatepark, but because it was 100 degrees we decided to head to the pool. Plan B was to meet at the Morgan Hill Aquatic Center. That was closed for the season so we went with Plan C and chose the Morgan Hill Centennial Recreation Center as our party spot. All was finally well.

We arrived early so Andrew and Blake jumped in the pool. About three minutes after this picture was taken, the lifeguards closed the pool. Someone had pooped in the pool for the second time that day. They used the net and plastic bags right where Andrew and Blake had been so maybe the guilty party was one of those children in the background?

Ignorance is bliss:


We headed back to Skyla and Casey's to have a more sanitary party of our own:


Here is Reade trying out a Bumbo seat and enjoying the air conditioning:


Cake Time:


We hung out outside for the end of the party while the kids monkeyed around. I can't believe that we started hanging out with this group when Skyla was pregnant with Aiden. We went from a group of six to a group of 12. It seems like it happened in the blink of an eye and it is so good to finally be back to hanging out in a group. All these children have left us kind of busy so finding time to all be in the same place at once is a miracle. I hope it gets to happen more often.

Goofy kids:


Happy Day After Your Birthday Skyla!

What Money Can Buy

This is our front yard:


This is what I would do with our front yard if I had money to blow on a rental:

PAL+SMITH

Andrew looked at me with "please don't make me be part of that" eyes when I told him I was going to hand clip the juniper in order to put in a tree swing. A girl can dream can't she?

Focused

Reade gave me and my neighbors a run for their money last night. My morning was super fun (rummage sale finds to follow soon), but by noontime my energy levels were completely depleted. I hope for a better night tonight.

Here is Blake spreading butter on some cinnamon toast. I love how he can get lost in absolute focus. The way he looked reminded me of our nap times before Reade was born. He looks angelic with his blonde hair, pale skin, and squishy cheeks. Even though he was on one giant time out today, I love him so:

Vinyl

I am saving up my allowance to buy myself a record player. I have been trying to decided if I would really use it and when a friend of mine showed me hers, I just knew I had to get one. I wish I could get the Soundwagon (only a mere $499):


Image from Unplggd

The Soundwagon in action:

Terrific/Terrible

I can only imagine what a marketing director would have said had s/he been sitting upstairs in Safeway watching down on me yesterday:

Marketing Director
Here she comes. She has a two year old and a new baby, perfect. Oh look, she just got mad because her two year old pulled a package of white beans off the shelf. Okay, one more aisle.

Assistant In Training
Yeah, but she looks so tired. She seems to be in a hurry so maybe she won't even notice them.

Marketing Director
Hah! She sees them. Look, they stopped her in her tracks. She is reading the box. She is looking around in amazement like she has found a pearl in an oyster and wants to share this news with those around her. She is reading the box again. Yup, she realized the cookies are exactly like the Girl Scout Cookie Samoas.

Assistant In Training
Wow, she and the checker are really going to town discussing that one box of cookies.

Marketing Director
If only I had a dollar for every time someone kept repeating, "And they are only $1.99!" Like putty in my hands.

____________________________

Damn you Safeway. Just when I start eating salads you up the ante.

Lazy

I am a suburban mom. I am a suburban mom living in the Bay Area. Tuesday mornings are my exercise day and while I was riding my bike up Middlefield Road, the suburban mom's equivalent of riding down a country lane, I stopped at a post box and mailed some bills. I had to laugh when one of those bills was to pay off a FastTrak ticket. As of July 1, 2010, the carpool lanes on the Bay Bridge require FastTrak. I hate that moment when you approach the toll booth knowing you have made a big mistake. Now I know.

A suburban trip to the park:


A suburban kid:


Today I decided to devote my morning to cleaning the house and spending some needed one-on-one time coloring with Blake (thanks Reade for sleeping through it so I could do what I wanted to do). Here is a video of what starts to happen when you let the kids direct the activities:

Welcome Baby

I made a Welcome Baby quilt for my neighbor's new daughter, Mireya. It is so fun to have a baby girl in a court full of boys! The family is doing great and I can't wait to meet her in person. I will wait awhile since Reade's hospital stay has me err on the cautious side.

2010 is the year of the metal tiger in the Chinese zodiac. These prints called to me in the fabric store so hopefully they will mesh well with the baby.

Front:


Back:

Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day

It is Talk Like A Pirate Day 2010! The day is off to a great start:

My pirates:




And some pirate jokes:

Will You Go?

Will you go? Who's side will you stand on? This is fabulous!

http://www.rallytorestoresanity.com/

Obituary

From today's Sacramento Bee:

John Robert Burton

Born 1-28-1921, Los Angeles; died 9-12-2010, Sacramento, age 89. Survived by wife of 67 years, Kathleen Albers Burton; sons Thomas Allen Burton (Sacramento), Richard James Burton (Santa Rosa), Donald Kent Burton (Mesa); granddaughters Amy Rebecca Burton (Sacramento), Shannon Burton Hurst (Palo Alto). In 1933 Bob's family moved to Sacramento where he has since lived. Graduated from University of California, Berkeley (1942). Volunteered for Navy service doing anti-submarine patrol duty along California coast, East Coast, and in Caribbean. Made Commanding Officer of SC 1474 and sent to forward Pacific for duty, participating in Okinawa landings in 1945. After War graduated from Boalt Hall Law School, University of California, Berkeley, in 1949. Was an Associate Editor of California Law Review during Senior year. Practiced public law in Sacramento with California Attorney General's Office, serving as Deputy Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, and Chief Assistant Attorney General for over 31 years until retirement in 1986. Handled variety of civil litigation and wrote many California Attorney General published opinions while serving under six Attorney Generals: Pat Brown, Mosk, Lynch, Younger, Deukmejian, and Van deCamp. Joined North Ridge Country Club (1964) serving on numerous committees and special projects including writing History of North Ridge in 2000. At his request no services will be held. No Services.

/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=145408403#ixzz0zo3IjuNn

Milestone

Reade rolled over for the first time on September 5th, 2010. What a milestone. It is only a matter of time before both my kids will be set in motion together. I still think it is funny that my kids always hit their milestones at my parent's house.

John Robert Burton, 1/28/21-9/12/2010

Last night, my grandfather passed away in the comfort of his own home. We were in Sacramento for my mother's birthday and were just about to get on the road to come home when we got the phone call from his hospice caregiver. I had seen my grandfather only hours before so I really feel complete about getting to spend enough time with him at the end of his life. Being able to see him after he passed and say goodbye is something I will hold dear to my heart forever.

I loved my grandfather and will always remember him as an: intelligent, caring, proud, honest, organized, and warm man. He truly cared for his family and gave without ever wanting anything in return. His golf and woodworking skills were passed on to his son, my father, so I will always be reminded of his talents. I will miss you Grandpa. I love you Grandpa.

My grandfather in memory:

As a child:


Two years old:


With his mother Mildred:


With his father "Jack":


UC Berkeley years:


Navy days:


Marrying my Nana:


A wonderful grandfather:


His wife and three sons:


Last Christmas:


Rest in peace.

Cousins

Cousins. I grew up seeing my cousins only a couple of times a year, if that, so watching Blake and Reade hang out with cousins melts my heart. Shirley, Erin, and Holly drove down to hang out for the day. Blake was like a gnat in Holly's ear, always bugging her. Poor girl. It was so good to hang out with Shirley and Erin and I look forward to driving up there to see them next.

I am heading back to Sacramento this weekend to celebrate my mom's birthday and check in with my grandpa. He is hanging in there and coping with the never ending stream of caregivers quite well. I wish it was easier for my Nana, but she has been a champ through this also. This is another interesting glimpse into the power of the mind-body connection.

What Is Love?

September 7, 2010 was our seventh wedding anniversary. I wanted to ride roller coasters to remind myself I am still a fun person, but nothing was open on a Tuesday night. I suggested going to a shooting range because I have been wanting to do that for a while now. I have only shot shotguns before so handguns were intimidating at first. It is funny to watch the videos because the guys in the room next to us were hooting and hollering while shooting off a super loud shotgun. They had to be younger than 21 and looked like a bunch of monkeys enjoying their one, powerful gun. Shooting a .22 was liberating, but also has me wondering how anyone is still alive. Thanks Andrew for going along with my plan and now we can say we had a thrilling anniversary together!

Andrew shooting a handgun for the first time:


Can you say timid?


Romance at its finest:

Must Haves

I think I need all three:


Buy here


Buy here

Buy here

Reade (Four Months)

At 4 Months I:
* Can grasp objects and play with them
* Roll over from my tummy to my back
* Laugh in a funny way (kind of a cackle while choking a bit)
* Have a fungal infection under my chin and and in my armpits due to warm weather and my fat rolls
* Am entertained by my brother
* Can whip my head around whenever I hear cartoons on a TV
* Sleep in 6 hour chunks for two weeks and then go back to getting
up every two hours to keep my mom on her toes
* Want to eat solid foods and if I stare long enough at my mom's plate, I
just might get some
* Have the roundest, yet flattest head
* Have tried drinking water from a cup twice now
* Found my feet
* Chew on my hands like teeth are coming any day now, but my mom is in no hurry
* Nurse a lot on some days and then hardly eat on others
* Still have red hair
* Am a happy baby

Check out my Three Month photo.

Real Country

My last post reminded me how much I miss being involved with farm life. I looked online to find local farms to visit and chose Hidden Villa as our first farm destination. It was a quiet day on the farm without tons of people or animals.

Portable chicken coop:


Blake loved the "horsey on the top":


Imagine designing a nursing bra for this one:


It was warm so these guys were panting away:


Sheered sheep:


I have spent many years of my life working with different types of children in farm settings. I have done animal outreach programs, animal assisted therapy, and animal education in schools. You would think I would be prepared for my son's behavior. His favorite activity was to pick up a fistful of dirt or wood chips and chuck it in the faces of the animals. Halfway through my tirades of animal cruelty, I would watch as his busy body darted here and there to find the most dangerous thing to play with. More explanations of rusty fencing, drainage pipes, and old tractor pulls only led the child to wonder what is so fun about being on a farm. Hmmm, will he ever love being on a farm with his mother around? I just know that if left to his own devices he would come home with a rusty, metal bar jetting out of his forehead. Andrew did say he enjoyed watching a rodeo on TV so maybe I should sign him up for bull riding lessons next summer.

Reade hated the baby carrier so I had to carry him for most of the trip. He seemed to like the farm though.

Country

I have always been drawn to everything country (minus wagon wheel decor), but I didn't think I was okie until Andrew captured this moment:



Nothin' like Nascar sounds and underwear!

200K

The Eurovan hit 200,000 miles the other day. Good job van. We just put a new transmission in the thing and of course, there are still a few more things in our queue to fix (gas gauge float, heater core, and eventually replacing the missing head rests). Most of our friends think this thing is a money pit and yes, I did yell out for a minivan the other day, but we budget for this thing and enjoy all it has to offer us. I am going to start a biannual Eurovan meetup at our house for fellow VW van owners. There are a handful in our neighborhood so bring on the potlucks!

Mileage:


Beautifully dirty:

T-Ball and Baby

I found it! I found this "complete" t-ball set at a thrift store for $4.99. Complete being the operative word since I am going to have to buy some PVC pipe to make this thing function, but who cares considering the batters glove was there. Blake is wearing his batting glove right now while he takes a nap.

Thrifting fun:


I found it! I found the babysitter of our dreams. It is so amazing to have found someone who I feel 100% comfortable with and is competent to boot (yay for Standford grads). Reade loved her and cried when she left.

Happy baby:


My grandfather is leaving the nursing home behind today so he can be at home. I am really glad he is going to be in a familiar environment. He will have nurses taking care of him 24 hours a day so hopefully he will find them helpful and not bothersome. Good job Grandpa!