10.03.2008
Apples, Apples, Apples
It was only about 55 degrees and 45 when the wind blew, which was almost everytime you forgot about it. Thankfully now that I am always wondering about H, I don't even think about how cold I really am. He got to wear so many layers today...a polo, a sweater, and a fur lined coat. It really felt like we live in the artic, and it is the first week of October. I have got a real suprise coming in a few weeks, i'm sure of it. Gina told me last week that we must must must get family North Face jackets to survive. We all know how much I just love freezing to death :) Woohoo!
Back to apples...we drove to a beautiful town called Natick, 14 miles. Russ was sure he saw John Kerry on his bike, hmmm? It was like a movie, so perfect. The neighborhood was set in these gorgeous pines trees and you could actually smell the wood as you drove down the streets. The houses were bigger than anything I had seen in L.A., well except the ones that look like hotels. It reminded me of Home Alone, the movie. Russ wants to live there. I told him we could maybe afford the basement of the back barn. So we drove on...to the orchard. Lookout Farms is where the day took place. The have an adorable train that takes you to all of the stops of the orchard. Apples, peaches, plums, pears, pumpkins, grapes, and of course more apples. This place was unreal! As we got ready to board the train H was just sqealing when the wind blew on his face. His little nose was pink in just seconds, but he absolutely loved it!
Here are the rules: you can eat any of the fruit to taste what you want to purchase. It is all organic so you can eat it right off the tree. We arrived at our first stop, the apples and Asian pears. So yummy, oh so yummy. The pears were huge!! And, the apples were so crisp and fresh, like nothing you have ever tasted before. We got one of each, and two or more if we really liked it. I know there is no way we will eat all of this fruit before it goes bad, but it was the experience of picking it that was so neat.
H was watching us try the fruit and he was really looking left out. So, we let him try some. He did really well! He actually bit into the apples and sucked off the juices! We gave him some of all kinds and he liked some, and not others, but I was so proud of him for trying it all. So, we went on the next stop...the peaches and more apples. Oh how delightful were those peaches!! H was not so sure, but he did try it. There was a large children's play area at this stop...where most people were. There were many daycares and families having picnics all around. There was also a lovely smelling petting zoo. Gotta love the pregnant nose. We did see a reindeer, which was pretty cool. No, we did not pet anything stinky.
Finally, the last stop. We were the only ones that got off here, and of course they pointed that out :) We finished up with my favorite, Macintosh Apples...THE BEST EVER!!! These apples are so fruity and not too griddy, like a pear....the perfect apple (that is what I told Russ, and he laughed at me). They are my new favorite thing right now. Yumm! H loved that kind too!
We got back to the gift shop and took some Mommy & son pictures by the pumpkins. I also grabbed some homemade apple cider I can't wait to taste tonight.
So, when we got back to the house, the bag of apples and pears and peaches were on the couch. Little H man found them and decided to try him one. We videoed it, and are STILL trying to get it on here. He had fresh pears and apples when he ate his dinner, and loved that! Here are the pictures of our wonderful family day we thoroughly enjoyed!
10.02.2008
Those Unforgettable First Few Steps
H started taking a few steps about two weeks ago. I did not want to announce that he was walking, because two steps is not really the definition of "walking." He has moved on from two or three steps, then three and four, and now four and five. He is so funny how out of balance he looks. He uses his toes to grab into the carpet and hold his balance...and he does this hilarious arm swing to compensate. We get so excited, and he just looks up at us like "What's the big deal with you crazys?"
Finally, he has stopped getting hurt...for the most part. Now he only gets really hurt, really bad. I'm not sure if that is better or worse. I still think every pain is the worst for him...who really ever wants their child to feel real pain? Not me!
He has moved on in to his 12 month clothes this past week. Yes, my eight and a half month old is a tall one. He still has no rolls on his body, despite what pictures might look like. His face only looks chubby when he smiles, just like his mother. But, his clothes are just adorable. At the 12 month stage apparently now you can find real clothes, NOT EVERYTHING IS A ONESIE anymore..thank goodness. I hate those things. Who really wants to change a diaper and have to go through three garments to get the job done??? Who has time for that mess?
H has been clapping for a month or so. His clapping consists of him slapping whatever is next to him and making a noise. He gets really excited and stomps his feet, too. BUT, today he actually got both hands together and clapped like a big boy. Yay H! He loves to snuggle, and at different times in his day will just come over and lay his head on our shoulders. As he tires in the daytime, he lays down on his tummy in the floor and just looks around, so funny! When we pick him up, almost everytime, he gives us a sweet hug, and we love it. We have to show each other, too. It's like we are so proud that our little guy loves us! Too funny!
At first I thought H was way behind for his vocal ability. Then i realized that he is just way ahead for EVERYTHING! So, this past week we have been very excited to hear him making lots more noise! We call him Kinsey when he screeches loudly! He does know his name now, and knows what "No" sounds like for sure. He sometimes listens, and moves away...and others he just laughs and keeps on doing whatever it is that is needing the term used. He started climbing up onto the couch and loves to be on the cushions. It scares me that he will jump off, so I have to stay right under him every second...not so easy with a baby belly :)
He loves his bathtime, and runs into the bathroom when he hears the water running in his tub. We recently got him a skid-proof mat for the basin. Before he would slip and slide everywhere on that little booty! He has an elmo faucet cover and he tries so hard to stand up and touch everything, which is a No-No at our house. He has to sit down the entire bathtime or he has to get out. He still does not have the best balance to be standing up in the water. But, he loves the time in the water and to splash his feet! He will play for about twenty minutes while I watch. Bathtime means his day is at an end, so it is ALMOST time for me to take a break! After I cook dinner, do laundry and my bathtime, of course! Where do the days go?
We have our first big family trip next week, and I have no idea how I am going to pack it all. I use everything on the list I made EVERYDAY...so I guess Friday night before we leave Saturday morning I will be throwing it all in a bag, somehow neatly.
Russ has eleven days off for this trip, lucky him! Our friend Gina has volunteered herself to take care of the Toby man, so that is good that he does not have to be boarded. They will be going to Conneticutt for a one day trip...so he will be going on a mini-vaca as well. I wish he could come with us...he is like our other child!
Wish I had some new pictures, but our camera is acting nutty right now...just before our first family trip! Woohoo! Hopefully we can figure it out before we leave :)
Finally, he has stopped getting hurt...for the most part. Now he only gets really hurt, really bad. I'm not sure if that is better or worse. I still think every pain is the worst for him...who really ever wants their child to feel real pain? Not me!
He has moved on in to his 12 month clothes this past week. Yes, my eight and a half month old is a tall one. He still has no rolls on his body, despite what pictures might look like. His face only looks chubby when he smiles, just like his mother. But, his clothes are just adorable. At the 12 month stage apparently now you can find real clothes, NOT EVERYTHING IS A ONESIE anymore..thank goodness. I hate those things. Who really wants to change a diaper and have to go through three garments to get the job done??? Who has time for that mess?
H has been clapping for a month or so. His clapping consists of him slapping whatever is next to him and making a noise. He gets really excited and stomps his feet, too. BUT, today he actually got both hands together and clapped like a big boy. Yay H! He loves to snuggle, and at different times in his day will just come over and lay his head on our shoulders. As he tires in the daytime, he lays down on his tummy in the floor and just looks around, so funny! When we pick him up, almost everytime, he gives us a sweet hug, and we love it. We have to show each other, too. It's like we are so proud that our little guy loves us! Too funny!
At first I thought H was way behind for his vocal ability. Then i realized that he is just way ahead for EVERYTHING! So, this past week we have been very excited to hear him making lots more noise! We call him Kinsey when he screeches loudly! He does know his name now, and knows what "No" sounds like for sure. He sometimes listens, and moves away...and others he just laughs and keeps on doing whatever it is that is needing the term used. He started climbing up onto the couch and loves to be on the cushions. It scares me that he will jump off, so I have to stay right under him every second...not so easy with a baby belly :)
He loves his bathtime, and runs into the bathroom when he hears the water running in his tub. We recently got him a skid-proof mat for the basin. Before he would slip and slide everywhere on that little booty! He has an elmo faucet cover and he tries so hard to stand up and touch everything, which is a No-No at our house. He has to sit down the entire bathtime or he has to get out. He still does not have the best balance to be standing up in the water. But, he loves the time in the water and to splash his feet! He will play for about twenty minutes while I watch. Bathtime means his day is at an end, so it is ALMOST time for me to take a break! After I cook dinner, do laundry and my bathtime, of course! Where do the days go?
We have our first big family trip next week, and I have no idea how I am going to pack it all. I use everything on the list I made EVERYDAY...so I guess Friday night before we leave Saturday morning I will be throwing it all in a bag, somehow neatly.
Russ has eleven days off for this trip, lucky him! Our friend Gina has volunteered herself to take care of the Toby man, so that is good that he does not have to be boarded. They will be going to Conneticutt for a one day trip...so he will be going on a mini-vaca as well. I wish he could come with us...he is like our other child!
Wish I had some new pictures, but our camera is acting nutty right now...just before our first family trip! Woohoo! Hopefully we can figure it out before we leave :)
9.25.2008
Whitey
So, it is always funny to hear the stories Russ brings home from each job. Thank the good Lord ER visitors don't really show just what kind of people we live around, but it is a pretty good way to see how they feel about race. Yep, I said it, race. It never fails, at every job, at some point in time, my husband is called something because he is white. My personal favorite, "cowboy." And, it really is hilarious to me that it is ok.
I will put myself out there and say that I have friends of all colors and races and that is just fine with me. We move around to all parts of the country and meet many types of people. I thought that racial critism was really something we only dealt with in the South, but that is a misconstrued notion. LA is actually voted the most racist city in our country. Beside the point, yesterday it happened. A lady, who was probably in some sort of distress, I'm sure...called Russ a whitey. She just came right out and said, "Look Whitey." Too funny. Well, only because my husband laughs at these things and I of course, get pissed. If he would have walked in her room and said, "Yo Brownie" he would have lost his job. We all know, well, I will say I KNOW this is how the lovely world of race works :) What is sad is that just because we have Southern accents, people of other races have always jugded me and Russ as being white supremacist, and we are SO not that way at all. So, it is funny that we are always chosen as the ones to be the 'racist' right off the bat.
My friends in LA asked me many questions during the Jena 6 time last Fall because they knew we were from Louisiana. They actually were really honest with us and told us they had heard we all had shot guns at our front doors and nooses hanging in our trees. I was so unaware of how wrong our country is about what Southerners believe. They actually don't get the meaning of the Confederate flag at all. It is so not a racist flag we wave in our yards to warn away the people that are not white. I could not believe how people thought of me and my family. It was really hard to change their minds, too.
You know, I just don't get it. And, I have seriously tried for years to understand it, but the truth is it will never be any different, ever. Well, in Heaven but that is it!
Russ has met many people here and some of them say they are strict Liberal Democrats but would never vote for Obama because he is African American. I think that is so dumb. Democrat or Republican, why would you ever vote for something you don't believe in? Is that really what our forefathers expected when they gave us the rights to vote and have a Democracy? I don't think so. I am obviously a Conservative, but I would have voted for Colin Powell if he ran for President, and guess what? He is African American, who knew?
I was watching Ellen the other day and she had LL Cool J as one of her guest stars for the day. Ok, all of my frieneds in college know that I used to love his songs for dancing purposes ONLY, but I can honestly say I was excited to see him on the show and see what he was doing these days. The man made himself look like a dang fool. He gets on the show and starts talking about politics and how it wouldn't matter what John McCain said, He is black, so he is voting for Obama, no questions asked. OK, really? Is that what we are teaching our kids these days? I was so upset I couldn't even believe it. I had to TIVO rewind it to see Ellen's face again. She was like, "What the Hell was that crap????" and, of course changed the subject after a short silent pause. Poor Ellen. I'm sure she is a liberal, but even she was at a loss...yes, Ellen at a loss for words!
Easy for it to be said: I will never be a supporter of his gansta tunes again. And, I'm sure he is upset.
Me and my Whitey will be supporting our candidate because his beliefs and judgements are in the same as what we believe, not because we were born with the same tone in our flesh. Unbelievable.
I honestly hope that people will realize how much our country needs a good leader right now, and vote according to what they feel is at highest importance.
I will put myself out there and say that I have friends of all colors and races and that is just fine with me. We move around to all parts of the country and meet many types of people. I thought that racial critism was really something we only dealt with in the South, but that is a misconstrued notion. LA is actually voted the most racist city in our country. Beside the point, yesterday it happened. A lady, who was probably in some sort of distress, I'm sure...called Russ a whitey. She just came right out and said, "Look Whitey." Too funny. Well, only because my husband laughs at these things and I of course, get pissed. If he would have walked in her room and said, "Yo Brownie" he would have lost his job. We all know, well, I will say I KNOW this is how the lovely world of race works :) What is sad is that just because we have Southern accents, people of other races have always jugded me and Russ as being white supremacist, and we are SO not that way at all. So, it is funny that we are always chosen as the ones to be the 'racist' right off the bat.
My friends in LA asked me many questions during the Jena 6 time last Fall because they knew we were from Louisiana. They actually were really honest with us and told us they had heard we all had shot guns at our front doors and nooses hanging in our trees. I was so unaware of how wrong our country is about what Southerners believe. They actually don't get the meaning of the Confederate flag at all. It is so not a racist flag we wave in our yards to warn away the people that are not white. I could not believe how people thought of me and my family. It was really hard to change their minds, too.
You know, I just don't get it. And, I have seriously tried for years to understand it, but the truth is it will never be any different, ever. Well, in Heaven but that is it!
Russ has met many people here and some of them say they are strict Liberal Democrats but would never vote for Obama because he is African American. I think that is so dumb. Democrat or Republican, why would you ever vote for something you don't believe in? Is that really what our forefathers expected when they gave us the rights to vote and have a Democracy? I don't think so. I am obviously a Conservative, but I would have voted for Colin Powell if he ran for President, and guess what? He is African American, who knew?
I was watching Ellen the other day and she had LL Cool J as one of her guest stars for the day. Ok, all of my frieneds in college know that I used to love his songs for dancing purposes ONLY, but I can honestly say I was excited to see him on the show and see what he was doing these days. The man made himself look like a dang fool. He gets on the show and starts talking about politics and how it wouldn't matter what John McCain said, He is black, so he is voting for Obama, no questions asked. OK, really? Is that what we are teaching our kids these days? I was so upset I couldn't even believe it. I had to TIVO rewind it to see Ellen's face again. She was like, "What the Hell was that crap????" and, of course changed the subject after a short silent pause. Poor Ellen. I'm sure she is a liberal, but even she was at a loss...yes, Ellen at a loss for words!
Easy for it to be said: I will never be a supporter of his gansta tunes again. And, I'm sure he is upset.
Me and my Whitey will be supporting our candidate because his beliefs and judgements are in the same as what we believe, not because we were born with the same tone in our flesh. Unbelievable.
I honestly hope that people will realize how much our country needs a good leader right now, and vote according to what they feel is at highest importance.
Sugar Pie
Wearing my new winter clothes. Yes, winter started here two weeks ago!
Up REALLY early to play, with my sleepy face on.
All ready for game day.
Helping Mommy fold towels.
Playing with my crabby rattle from Nona
After my first haircut.
Up REALLY early to play, with my sleepy face on.
All ready for game day.
Helping Mommy fold towels.
Playing with my crabby rattle from Nona
After my first haircut.
Obama Pajama
Just my biweekly political rant:
Last week Russ and I were doing research on political candidates, and by RESEARCH I mean we were on the ever-so-trusted You Tube. I had heard about the footage where Senator Obama is standing for the national anthem, but not holding his heart...so we found it. Watching that video was really amazing. Amazing because how can you hear that anthem play and not be so touched in respect that you must hold your hand in it's rightful place. Is this man American??? I can just see it now...Obama at his inaguaration in January 2009. Everyone in the colosseum is standing and touching their chest, but not our new President. How proud of him would I feel, not so much.
It gets better. Obama has recently changed his campaign jet logo...from the American flag to a Red and white striped O, with a blue strip of color underneath. So, if you see the jet, you would think it was a business...not anything like what the Air Force One plane looks like. Which, whatever, is his personal choice, I just thought it to be a little odd. If I was running for President, I know I know, IF...but I would think I would want my flag to be the biggest thing on that dang plane! (screaming now) HELLO!!! (and, singing now) "I'm proud to be an American! And at least I know my flag is on my plane."
Now I know that debates and elections are full of mockery and ways to get people to discuss how the opposing party is wrong, but the fact that the man actually said "he had been to almost all of the 57 states" is priceless. What grade did we learn that in? Like, National History in 7th? And I'm pretty sure before that as well. Aren't our parents kind of supposed to give us a heads up about that, too? Oh wait, his father still lives in Kenya.
Now the man actually stated last night, regarding this new bailout, that He and McCain should not postpone their debate Friday night because a President should be able to juggle numerous things at once. Seriously? The largest bailout in our country since the great depression, and the man thinks there is no need for further discussion and counsel from economic advisors? Is he THAT comfortable just dishing out $700 Large ones without hours of counsel? Given, he is not the one making the decision, but he will be (possibly) the one taking over this plan in a few months. It will be effective in June 2009.
I get that John McCain didn't know how many houses he had, and that he is old and looks dead most of the time, yatta yatta. If I had all of the money that man had I would probably have homes all over and I would have to see the number before saying the wrong one. He was trying to be honest, and if he dies during his term, we will still have Palin. The woman just had a baby and she is like 50. At least the man knows the dang national anthem when it is played, and has a stinkin' clue about our military. Obby has been a Senator like 160 days. Harrison is older than that.
So, in conclusion, I will be looking forward to Obama learning our American cultures as he progresses towards the White House, and checking to see how many more comments everyone can make about Sarah Palin and her family. It's a good thing we are all perfect or how would we ever choose a candidate? Hmmm.
VOTE VOTE VOTE in less than 50 days!!!
Last week Russ and I were doing research on political candidates, and by RESEARCH I mean we were on the ever-so-trusted You Tube. I had heard about the footage where Senator Obama is standing for the national anthem, but not holding his heart...so we found it. Watching that video was really amazing. Amazing because how can you hear that anthem play and not be so touched in respect that you must hold your hand in it's rightful place. Is this man American??? I can just see it now...Obama at his inaguaration in January 2009. Everyone in the colosseum is standing and touching their chest, but not our new President. How proud of him would I feel, not so much.
It gets better. Obama has recently changed his campaign jet logo...from the American flag to a Red and white striped O, with a blue strip of color underneath. So, if you see the jet, you would think it was a business...not anything like what the Air Force One plane looks like. Which, whatever, is his personal choice, I just thought it to be a little odd. If I was running for President, I know I know, IF...but I would think I would want my flag to be the biggest thing on that dang plane! (screaming now) HELLO!!! (and, singing now) "I'm proud to be an American! And at least I know my flag is on my plane."
Now I know that debates and elections are full of mockery and ways to get people to discuss how the opposing party is wrong, but the fact that the man actually said "he had been to almost all of the 57 states" is priceless. What grade did we learn that in? Like, National History in 7th? And I'm pretty sure before that as well. Aren't our parents kind of supposed to give us a heads up about that, too? Oh wait, his father still lives in Kenya.
Now the man actually stated last night, regarding this new bailout, that He and McCain should not postpone their debate Friday night because a President should be able to juggle numerous things at once. Seriously? The largest bailout in our country since the great depression, and the man thinks there is no need for further discussion and counsel from economic advisors? Is he THAT comfortable just dishing out $700 Large ones without hours of counsel? Given, he is not the one making the decision, but he will be (possibly) the one taking over this plan in a few months. It will be effective in June 2009.
I get that John McCain didn't know how many houses he had, and that he is old and looks dead most of the time, yatta yatta. If I had all of the money that man had I would probably have homes all over and I would have to see the number before saying the wrong one. He was trying to be honest, and if he dies during his term, we will still have Palin. The woman just had a baby and she is like 50. At least the man knows the dang national anthem when it is played, and has a stinkin' clue about our military. Obby has been a Senator like 160 days. Harrison is older than that.
So, in conclusion, I will be looking forward to Obama learning our American cultures as he progresses towards the White House, and checking to see how many more comments everyone can make about Sarah Palin and her family. It's a good thing we are all perfect or how would we ever choose a candidate? Hmmm.
VOTE VOTE VOTE in less than 50 days!!!
9.20.2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NONA!!!
We know you are so busy doing everything for everyone else. But, maybe at one moment today you can stop, breathe, and enjoy yourself and who you are to everyone of us around you. Know that we wish we were there to share some yummy cake and help you blow out all of those candles :)
Love you so much, Happy Birthday Mom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)