What a Spectacle!

We visited the optical store recently and had Carter fitted for some new frames!
Now, there wasn't a huge selection of infant-sized glasses, so they are actually ordering in some more from which we can select.  But we got a general idea of what they look like on him, even though he was making his "bitter beer face" most of the time.

Which do YOU think suits our little guy the best?

OPTION 1:  Long and squarish.  We really liked these on his face, though the stickers in the picture make his eyes look a little cray-cray.  These are Flexicon, so they twist and are virtually indestructible. 

OPTION 2:  Long and Rounded.  LOVED these, but this particular style was Nick Jr. featuring Dora the Explorer.  So wrong for him, but I'm open to seeing something similar.

OPTION 3:  Roundish.  SUPER CUTE for a costume, perhaps, but I thought these came across a little Harry Potter-ish.  I don't know...this picture is making me have second thoughts.  I kinda like 'em!

OK- your turn.  What's your vote?

Happy Orange-tober!

Hummmmm BABY!

Who cares about Presidential Debates when our GIANTS are contending for the World Series!
We've been tuning in from our cozy living room in North Dakota as many friends have attended the games in San Francisco (some even stopping to pay homage to Derek's brick at the ballpark's new World Champions Walk and thoughtfully sending us pictures...).

My brother, Derek, was a longtime Giants fan, often traveling to the beautiful ballpark to cheer them on.   As children, we followed the excitement of "Will the Thrill", and tuned in for the 1989 Battle of the Bay as our living room swayed during game 3's earthquake.  Though baseball, as a sport, has gone through some tough times, and the Giants have quietly been rebuilding, we have never put our fan-dom to rest.

This will be the second world series appearance in the three years since Derek has been gone.  It's bittersweet- we SO wish that he could cheer with us- but think, perhaps, he's had a hand in this recent winning streak :)

Oh, and I'd like to extend "condolences" to my newest sister-in-law and die-hard Cardinals fan, Lauren.  Since we placed a friendly wager on this series, I should be getting something sweet very soon... :)

On to the WORLD SERIES....DON'T STOP BELIEVING!

Opening Day at the Buffet...

Here's what we had for lunch today:

Waffles with Maple Syrup
Organic Tortilla Chips and Salsa
Steak Jerky
Pork Tenderloin bites
Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
Imported English Cheeses
Belgian Chocolate Cookies
Fresh Apple-Carrot Juice
Mixed Nuts and Cashews
Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese in Balsamic Vinegar
Columbian Coffee
Rotisserie Chicken
Glazed Ham
Blueberries
Chocolate Macadamia Turtles
Mickey Mouse Chicken Nuggets
Apple Pie


Thank you, COSTCO, for providing such a fine smorgasbord of delectable goodies!
(Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?)
Oh, and welcome to North Dakota!

First Costco to Open in North Dakota

Renewing our Strength

We've had some pretty sleepless nights around here.
I'm not going to lie...it's exhausting, for all of us.
But we have seen little windows of progress that are encouraging, and propel us forward.

If there is such a thing as "an oldie but a goodie" when it comes to Bible verses (aren't they all old?  aren't they all good?), the following is one of them.  It was inscribed on my heart in my youth, one of the first verses I can remember taking to memory.

Unlike certain songs that flood the radio airwaves and quickly wear out their welcome, God's word makes itself new and fresh as we walk our different paths.  Today I'm looking at this scripture through sleep-deprived, "frustrated mommy" eyes...and it couldn't be more timely and inspiring.

Isaiah 40:28-31  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,   the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;   they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;   they shall walk and not faint.

Beware of Mommy!

I've had an extraordinarily short fuse lately.
I know it has something to do with my altered sleep pattern lately, and I've been biting my lip so the whole household here doesn't feel my wrath.

So, I'm going to vent it out here.  LUCKY YOU!
**If you are looking for a motivational post, you are in the wrong place!**

1.  SOCKS that are TOO LOOSE.  It's finally sweater/sock season here, and after going barefoot the past few months, I've been forced to put a layer over my ice-cold toes.  Unfortunately, my socks all seemed to GROW since last winter.  (Or, more logically, I was pregnant and had big feet that stretched them all out!)  In any case, loose socks make me CRAZY.  It's a day-ruiner, like uncooperative hair or baggy, tired eyes.

2.  PRODUCE BAGS at the GROCERY STORE.  I literally had tears in my eyes over this recently.  When I cannot get the *%#$@ bag open, not only do I feel like the world's biggest idiot, but it's a huge time waster.  I don't have time like that.

3.  PLASTIC BAGS full of groceries.  I am a paper bag girl, and I don't mind that I'm not "saving the environment".  On a recent trip to the supermarket, they wrongly assumed I would want plastic bags for my cart FULL of groceries.  Not only do they use a ridiculous number of plastic bags (here, let me give you a bag for every. single. item.) but their amoebic shape means their contents are going to be rolling around my trunk by the time I get home anyway.

4.  POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ADS.  Need I say more?

5.  "NOOO, KOTTTA, NOOOOO!!!!"  Sibling aggravation.  Ahhh, it's just going to get worse from here.  Carter is IN LOVE with his sister.  Really, it's amazing...he's a magnet.  She leaves the room, he's crawling in there.  She looks his way, his face lights up.  She has a toy, he wants to play with her.  And while she loves her brother when she wants to love her brother, she does NOT love him when he's all up in her business- which is pretty much all the time now.  "No Kotta!  That's mine!!  Noooo!  Mommy, take baby over there??"  (Mommy pounds forehead on keyboard.)

6.  THE CLERK AT THE HALLMARK STORE who threw my credit card at me today for no apparent reason.  Now, I'm not one to punch old ladies but let me tell you...I almost became one today.  It may be that the only reason I spared her is because I'm saving my first punch for the lady behind the B&N Starbucks counter, who has been on my list for quite some time.  (No, I'm not threatening actual physical violence here.)

7.  PEOPLE who are NOT DOING THEIR JOB.  I stood in line behind five other people while one clerk was behind the counter working up a sweat, and another was wandering the front of the store like she was lost.  Now, I have become much more brazen in my "old age".  Either that, or my time is just much more valuable when I have other duties to attend to.  So you better believe I chased down that comatose employee and "asked" her to lend a hand.  Ugh.  This doesn't bode well for a stress-free Christmas shopping season.

8.  POOR GRAMMAR.  I'm a former teacher.  It's in my blood.  And poor grammar has ALWAYS bothered me.  But lately, I've seen a crazy influx of my EDUCATED FRIENDS using incorrect tenses, inappropriate punctuation and horrible spelling.  We are in our thirties now, friends.  Time to learn the difference between your and you're.

9.  SNAPS on BABY CLOTHES.  They are enough to drive me to tears lately!  (I'm telling you, my hormones are in a bunch.)  Carter likes to play this game called "kick, twist and cry" when I have to snap him up.  It's super fun.  And, this scenario usually ends with having to redo them all anyway because I MISSED ONE %&$# SNAP.

I realize this post may make me sound like a horrible person.
All of these things are, of course, silliness in the grand scheme of things.
But seriously, folks....I'd be a happier person if you would just check your spelling and buy me some socks.

Feel free to add number 10 to my list...

Country Bumpkins

You can practically feel the leaves brushing your cheek, can't you?

Spring cleaning came late this year...this "autumn makeover" was way overdue!  If you are on my blog page, you'll notice a spruced-up and up-to-date header, as well as some new colors and textures.  A nice change...it'll do, at least until winter :)

We took advantage of unseasonably high temperatures at the end of September to visit the Pumpkin Patch with some friends.  As we discovered, not many people are thinking "pumpkin patch" in September.  Thus, we were treated to some country fun virtually all to ourselves!  This was a stark contrast to LAST year's trip, which was cut short because we nearly froze to death in the midst of huge crowds.

I'll add to the new fall flavor on this page with some sweet pics from the patch :)

Carter was mesmerized by the baby animals!

My little beauty.

She can not even contain her excitement.

Only kids in the patch= extra train time!

Can you see that tongue out? 

Truly, a child of the corn.

Baby "Kotta" enjoying a ride with Sissy

Gotta love a girl in boots!

Kendall and her buddy, Olivia, head out to check the merch :)

Hey country bumpkin!  How's the frost down on that pumpkin?

My heart melts :)

I had some fun with editing these cuties...

FINALLY, a family picture with all FOUR of us looking at the camera!  (Hi, Carter!)

Happy harvest, friends!

My Uncle Derek!

Chris:  Kendall, who made the trees?
Kendall:  Um, JESUS!
Chris:  Right!  And who made the moon?
Kendall:  Umm, UNCLE DEREK!

Jamie:  Let's say our prayers before we go to bed!  What do you want to tell Jesus?
Kendall:  Umm, HI UNCLE DEREK!  (Waves hand...)

Chris:  Kendall, who made you so pretty?
Kendall:  UNCLE DEREK!
Jamie:  I'll bet Uncle Derek told Jesus to make you EXTRA pretty because you are his special niece!

Chris:  (naptime) Let's say a prayer before we do sleepies!  Should we thank God for Uncle Derek?
Kendall:  Uncle Derek made our house!
Chris:  Um, no, not really...


Three years ago today, Uncle Derek became our little girl's angel.  I think Kendall has a special connection with him.  He did, after all, get to feel her little feet kicking and was excited to be an uncle!  Clearly, she knows Uncle Derek is an important part of our lives.  I'm pretty sure she thinks God, Jesus, and Uncle Derek are just bumming around heaven like pals, creating things and watching her from the sky.  It's skewed theology, but I'm okay with it for now.  The whole Holy Spirit thing would throw her for a loop at two-years-old anyway.

Uncle Derek, we love you!  Thank you for being a part of my little girl's life from afar.  I hope you hear every "I love you" and "HI UNCLE DEREK" from her excited lips!

(Carter, Grandma D and I spruced up Derek's marker on our summer trip to California.)

Sneak Preview...

Amongst the greatest of my halloween memories are the costumes my mom handmade for me. 
Now, my sewing skills are pretty remedial (I haven't threaded a bobbin since high school...), but I'm pretty competent when it comes to craftiness.
I was pretty excited to put together Kendall's halloween costume this year.

Now, no spoilers on the finished product, but this is how it's coming together...

Kendall's Special Job

Kendall was asked to be a flower girl in Uncle Eric and Aunt Lauren's wedding this month...
I was a little anxious since the wedding fell right in the middle of nap time, and since she was pretty apprehensive about the whole thing at the dress rehearsal.
BUT, when it came time to perform, that little girl was a superstar!
She looked beautiful in her "princess dress" and dropped her petals just like she was supposed to!  (She even added her own flavor by stepping on them after she dropped them, eliciting some giggles from the congregation...)  Her performance is on video below...

One More Thing...

Autumn is upon us.
The leaves are changing colors, and warm smells of cinnamon, cider and soup have been wafting through our home.
I got out our fall decor yesterday and Kendall helped me adorn the house :)
And a quick trip to the neighborhood farmers' market yielded some unexpected purchases:  a bottle of homemade honey and three pumpkins to enjoy! 

Although there have been many blog-worthy things happening around this place, it seems all I have been able to post are occasional updates on Carter.  Sorry about that...I will be bringing to you more entertaining things in the near future.  But in the meantime, here we go again...

Carter's Behavioral Specialist appointments are underway.  Three times a week, he will see the doctor who has a PLAN to wean him.  Of course, the DAY BEFORE his initial appointment with the doctor, he decided to suck down some juice at home.  (What a booger!)  I'm hoping that means this process will go more quickly than we thought.  I am not allowed to attend sessions with Carter, and our home assignment basically relegates me to a big case of B.O. ....  BACK OFF.  Nighttime routine will change with the non-nursers in the house rocking Carter back to sleep when he wakes.  This makes me feel sad and guilty, but hey- I've been doing ALL the nighttime routine myself for 10 months now.  A few weeks with some help, and we'll have a whole new operation here!

And, this morning we had a check-up with the Eye Doctor, which I was dreading and for good reason.  He had a pressure check on his eyes (this has been done under anesthesia for the last few months) which meant restraining him, having his eyelids clamped open and an instrument applied to his eyeball for reading.  It's awful.  We had this done at his very first check-up- he was three months old- and I bawled.  This time, I shrunk back into the corner as far as I could and covered my face.  I could hear his feet excitedly kicking the table as he scrrreeeeamed, and every instinct to push the doctors out of the way, grab my baby and run was successfully harnessed.  The result was a satisfying report of "normal" pressures.  Our next pressure check will be in the cities

My souvenir from the appointment was a prescription for Carter's GLASSES- which he'll need to address his near-sightedness (caused by the Glaucoma).  I'm not going to lie...although I've been getting many encouraging responses from friends who think he will be SO CUTE in glasses, I shed major tears on the way home.  Maybe it's the idea of having to look at those beautiful eyes through a glass barrier now.  Maybe it's the idea of having ANOTHER challenge to face (like he's going to keep those glasses on his face?!  HA!).  I don't know.  I guess I'm just an emotional basketcase today.

That's it for now-
I promise I have non-Carter related posts to share, stay tuned!

Another Referral...

Whew!
Moving on... ;)

I just wanted to post a quick update on Carter's weaning challenges.
In a nutshell:  I gave up.
I "starved" him out for several days straight, but this method is clearly not advantageous in moving him past this stage.  

We consulted his pediatrician at his 9-month appointment.
I reported every method I've tried, and she consulted a lactation specialist.
BOTH agreed that Carter's early life trauma may be contributing to my inability to wean him.
So, while the doctor agreed that the "starvation" method may be effective for other babies, Carter may require some special coaxing away from the security he finds in me.

Therefore, we are meeting with a child psychiatrist/behavioral specialist whose specialty is:  Infant feeding.  Again, we're in the right place for our medical needs with Carter.

And, forgive me, but I giggle every time I think of Carter sitting in on a fluffy couch across from a man with a pipe and a notepad.  "So Carter, tell me about your abnormal attachment issues...."

Oh, Brother.

Oh, Brother.
Oh, bother.
Both have been on the tongue lately.

Long story short, I'm weaning.
Long story long, when Carter was teeny tiny, he would NOT lay on his back.
We had no idea why, and now have retroactive empathy, but at the time....ugh.  LAY ON YOUR FREAKING BACK without screaming, please!  As we now know, laying on his back contributed to increased pressure in his eyes.  Increased pressure = increased screaming = even greater pressure*.
To alleviate that problem, and to get ANY sleep at all, Carter started sleeping with me.  ON me.
Fast forward nine months.
I have a wiggly, squirmy, 20-pound baby still "sleeping" on me. 

The problem I've had with crib training is unique- that is, I haven't been able to easily google an answer.  While the "cry-it-out" method worked quickly and easily with Kendall, we have been- literally- under Doctor's orders NOT to let Carter cry excessively*.  Well, what's a mommy to do if baby won't go in crib and mommy can't let him cry?

Answer:  9 months of sleeping in Mommy's bed while Daddy kicks it on the couch.


While I love my baby boy DEARLY and our snuggle time is great, getting a fist in the face at 3 a.m. is not.  And, I can't help but sulk every time I pass his beautiful nursery in which he has never slept overnight.

I say, we're done.  It's time to restore justice in this house.
Weaning is in full swing here, and we have a very challenging baby that winces every time a bottle/cup/spoon/dropper/etc. gets near him.  This has added up to four days of ZERO milk feedings during the day. 
YES, I've tried everything. EVERYTHING.
Do not leave suggestions for me in the comment box, I will kick you in your virtual shin.
All of our doctor's suggestions, every random method I searched...all unsuccessful.
He's just being SO stubborn!

So, I've banked all of my hopes on the fact that eventually our persistence will pay off and he'll cave!  I'll be elated to report when it happens.

Until then, oy.  Pray for me.

The Anti-Napa

Sorry I left you hanging after that last post...
I had good intentions of posting "part 2" of the birthday fun sooner than this!
Anywho....

While in Stockton, we planned a wine-tasting-vineyard-hopping spree around Lodi wine country. 
Now, Napa- Lodi's bigger and more popular older sister- has a pretty good monopoly on Northern California wine interest, in the media spotlight, anyway.  Few people think of Lodi as a hotspot for some great vino!  And, as Lodi grape-growers are quick to tell you, many Napa wines get their grapes from good ol' Lodi.

Well, where Napa is quick to charge a pretty tasty penny for a sip of their wines, Lodi- with few exceptions- hosts all tastings free of charge.  Though wine wasn't the central theme of our time together, we enjoyed a few glass-clinks in celebration of friendship at the following wineries:

Dancing Fox Bakery and Winery

What a pleasant surprise this was!  Nestled in the heart of downtown Lodi, it's English cottage-style ambiance was the perfect place for us to grab a bite to eat and kick off our afternoon.  And, the attached tasting room was friendly and generous with our party :)  With some varieties that we had never tried before, we ended up bringing home some Cherry Wine, Petite Syrah, and Almond Sparkling Wine.  We'll be back to this little gem, for sure!

Berghold Vineyards

Just as pretty as it is tasty, we enjoyed our time looking at displays of fine silver, exquisite accessories, and antique furniture.  The gardens were a great backdrop for some pictures, and the ornate tasting room a good place for a quick nursing session (!).  Hey- it had to be done.

Look at this crazy beaded handbag! 

Viaggio Estate and Winery

Yowsa.  New, fancy, beautiful.  This winery is working it all.  So lovely, in fact, that we decided to sit and stay a while.  While a wedding was occupying the gardens, we enjoyed the tasting room courtyard virtually to ourselves.  Lots of space for girl-talk and laughter, a great cap to our afternoon.
Oh, and pretty good champagne, too ;-)

 

Cheers to a happy reunion!  Until next time...

Birthday Fun in the Sun

Earlier this month, my Mom and I visited Stockton to celebrate our birthdays.
(My planned birthday vacation in June was canceled because of family drama.)
I know what you're thinking-- of all the places we could celebrate our birthdays, why STOCKTON, that broke-down, bankrupt mess of a city?
The Stockton we know is filled with friends who are like family, so returning is like coming home.
Both of us thoroughly enjoyed our time in the asparagus capital of the world, and used our time making memories with all our favorite people.

 

Happy birthday, Mom...I hope you felt surrounded by LOVE on your special day!  <3 br="br">