Archive for January, 2009

Introducing Captain Lovie McLoverson

January 28, 2009 · Filed under My boys

I have been  meaning to write about Lovie McLoverson for awhile, but, well.  You know how I can procrastinate.  Who is Lovie McLoverson you ask?  Why only Blake’s snuggliest, cuddliest, most sleepy friend.  He’s his lovie!  I had always heard and seen babies pick some sort of “attachment” thing, like a blanket or a teddy bear.  I think it’s great too, it tends to help them soothe themselves in the crib.  And for the longest time while he was an infant, I was pushing my favorite blanket on him, hoping it would be the big winner.  It was this gorgeous Janie and Jack blanket with satin edges and Blake’s name monogrammed on it (courtesy of Amanda’s mother, so sweet!).  What a perfect lovie, right?

During all of this, my dad’s brother, Uncle Robert had asked me what we still needed for B.  I told him we were still desperately trying to find something warm enough for him to sleep in at night.  It was so cold in his room.  So at 2 months old, Blake’s Great Uncle Robert and Aunt Linda gave him this cute little snuggly contraption:

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It was the first thing we had found that would keep him warm all night so we put it on him every night over his jammies for the next 8 weeks.  By the time Blake was 4 months old, we were stuffing him into that thing like a sausage.  We even cut the feet out.  When we didn’t put him in it, he would go to sleep so restless and fitful, and he would eventually cry until we put him back in it-usually around 1am.  Finally, in one of my fruitless searches to find a new one in a bigger size, Kelli had a brilliant idea.  “Why don’t you just put it in the crib with him?”  Well, duh.  Why don’t I?

And this is how Captain Lovie McLoverson was born.  He now travels with us everywhere and my son has never slept a night without him since.  Lord help me if we ever lose that thing.  One day it will embarrass him to know that he snuggles with an old pair of pj’s.  But for now, I think its cute.

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He rubs that little hand piece all over his face and neck and it just hypnotizes him right to sleep.  Reminds me of Daina and her Lulu.

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Rude. Just rude.

January 27, 2009 · Filed under My subjective take on things

So this morning, Blake and I are sitting in the kitchen enjoying our breakfasts and the falling snow outside.  Blake’s having his scrambled eggs and spinach (look out Popeye) and I’m watching the Today Show and eating my granola.  Good times.  Next on Today: America’s Worst Foods.  I enjoy these segments.  I think maybe because they always make me feel a bit self righteous.  Well, duh, of course the double cheese double bacon double meat burger is 1800 calories.  Yes, the salad is not as healthy if you top it with fried onion rings, bacon, cheese, and ranch.  I’m happily munching as the first food comes on: Quaker Natural Granola with Oats, Honey and Raisins.  Gulp.  Not only is that the exact cereal I’m chewing right this moment, but I just bought a bulk of it at Costco.  I become indignant.  Wait, I’m not stupid, I read the nutritional facts before I bought it.  This guy’s spouting off close to 500 calories per bowl, and my bag of cereal says 210.  Then he reminds us that the serving size listed is 1/2 cup.

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Really guys?  I don’t measure my cereal, but then I decided to and realized that yes, I usually eat about 1 cup of cereal, and with the milk, that adds up to a 500 calorie BOWL OF CEREAL.  Not to mention 30 grams of sugar, and 12 grams of fat.  That equates to 3 Nestle Crunch Bars.  Awesome.  I could be having multiple ice cream bars for breakfast.  Do you know how long it already takes me to walk through a grocery store and analyze nutritional facts before I buy products?  Please tell me why this industry is incessantly working to sabotage our food?  You have heard me rant about this before, but come on, we should be angry.  Do I have to make EVERYTHING for myself?  I want my money back Quaker looks-so-good-for-you cereal.

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11 things on my mind today

January 19, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized

1.  This isn’t exactly a newsflash, but I kinda suck at housekeeping.   For the 3rd time in a week, I have started a load of laundry, forgotten about it, and had to wash it again 2 days later when they were discovered.  I’m sure this should be some sort of wake-up call.  Leave it alone Stu.

2.  I find it amusing that the weather.com report keeps saying it’s not going to snow again today, and every time it snows, they change their mind and the forecast says it’s snowing.  Thanks guys.  At this point I’m thinking I could run your website myself.

3.  I do not suck at shopping.  Old Navy had a big clearance sale (extra 50% off all their sale stuff) this weekend and I stocked up on warm clothes for Blake in size 2T (this is the next size up from his 24 month clothes) and saved a fortune.

4.  I got home I tried them on him, only to find out that my 15 month old is going to skip 2T all together and go straight to 3T.  After another trip to Old Navy, I’m now stocked up on 3T clothes.  He is seriously big guys.

5.  Now that my son is walking (still looks a bit drunk, but walking), he is getting hurt all the time.  He has his first black eye from running/falling into the window sill.  It looks like the prettiest purple eyeshadow.

6.  Speaking of eyeshadow, Blake is becoming very interested in my makeup (to Stuart’s chagrin).  He loves all the compacts and tubes and putting them in and out of the makeup bag.  He watches me really carefully and now pretends to put it on his own face.  It’s really cute.  And I’m sure he’ll grow out of it.  (right?)

7. I’m trying to be a person who gives blood regularly and I just think I could be much more charitable if they would provide childcare.

8.  I’m making BBQ chicken and sweet potato fries for dinner using the Williams Sonoma Professional Multi Chopper Stu got me for Christmas.  Pretty thrilling stuff.

9.  I know people going to the inauguration tomorrow and I can’t get far enough away from DC.  Nothing to do with Obama.  Crowds and Controversy make me very nervous.  Not to mention all the road closings in and out of DC.

10.  If you offered to mail me coffee from HEB, I’m all in.  I’m anxiously awaiting my first shipment, but that won’t last forever!!  ;-)

11.  I’m sad Sam had to go back to New York.

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One of my favorite things

January 15, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized

coffeeWhat would I do without coffee?   Every morning, I wake up and spend a moment or 2 daydreaming about my first cup of the day while Stu gets ready for work and Blake babbles in his crib.  Now that I have been introduced to this coffee, my daydreams are more specific.  Eat your heart out Starbucks, move over Green Mountain.  Taste of Texas Coffee is here.  Specifically, Taste of San Antonio (there is also Taste of the Hill Country, and Taste of Austin I think).  I’m not usually a fan of flavored coffee, but the chocolate and cinnamon flavors in this are so subtle and scrumptious.  Ahhhh.  I had to bring my last bag back from Texas (it’s only sold there at HEB and Central Market), and as I scooped the last bit of it into the coffee maker today, I got serious about getting more.  Apparently, I now order my coffee from Texas.  This my friends, is not economical.

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You Got to Pray Just to Make it Today

January 11, 2009 · Filed under God is Faithful, My subjective take on things

Pull out your parachute pants, cause MC Hammer said it best.  :-)

People are mad about the prayer at the Inauguration.  There are all kinds of plans, from “Anti Rick Warren” signs, to suing, to disrupting the prayer, to simply turning their backs during the prayer.  This baffles me.  I mean it.  I’ve heard everyone’s arguments about church and state and frankly, have read enough in the news today that I don’t need to hear anymore.  I really don’t want to get into why it is and always be impossible to separate church and state.  As long as there are human beings in both, they will not be separate.  But all of this news makes my stomach turn.  Most of the people scheming to remove this prayer have done very little research about the God they are ostracizing.  They might think they know about my God, but you’ll never convince me that they do.  If someone looked further into who God was (without taking random Bible verses out of context and making them look crazy), then they would find out that they were created in His image, and He calls us His children.  No matter who you are or what you think, He knows you, loves you, and wants you desperately.  And though He operates on grace and mercy and love (what’s not to like, people??), I think- no, I know- He can be angered.  I’ve learned enough about God to know better than to literally turn my back on him.  There was a time in my life when I figuratively did this and the results were devastating.  But for those who plan to turn their backs on God in this prayer, I beg you not to ever wonder where He went.  For those unsure, take this scripture in the context of our country’s turmoil:

2 Chronicles 7:14

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Now, if you know me, you know well that I had some pretty assertive opinions I was ready to share when I first heard that Miss Anne Hathaway was going to wear an anti-Rick Warren ribbon to the Inauguration.  I was actually quite tempted to make my own anti-Anne Hathway ribbons since I must also be so very important.  I even wanted to share with you what a great idea it is to keep God separate from government.  Why would we need any help from Him when they seem to be doing so great on their own?  It’s not like politics is corrupt or anything.  okokok.  I still ranted for a minute there.  But I got checked in church today.

This attitude is not productive.  Here is how we as Christians are instructed to behave:

2 Timothy 2:22-26

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  Don‘t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.  And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

This is very difficult when I feel offended.  But, if all Christians will behave in this way, maybe we’ll be easier to spot in the throngs of people arguing and bickering.

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Oh I wish…

January 10, 2009 · Filed under My boys

Today, as Blake and I cruise up to the Supa G (Giant Grocery store), to what do my wondering eyes should appear?  The Oscar Mayer Weiner-mobile!  I have tried to teach him the song, but he’s unresponsive as of yet.  Give me time.  But I do remember being on the bus with the flag squad in 11th grade on the way to a football game and turning it into a rap with Brandi Isadore.  Good times.

Here is a photograph to commemorate the occasion.  Blake’s first Weiner-mobile!

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B chilling in the back:

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He thought I was nuts.

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Grateful Friday

January 9, 2009 · Filed under God is Faithful

This week, after getting home from our hospital-filled holiday season and my itsy pity party about it all, I have been overwhelmed with a fresh sense of gratitude.   I do try to keep my focus on gratitude, because I think it keeps us grounded in difficult times, but as you all know, life can take over an distract us.  I know that being at home every day with my baby is a gift, and no matter how stir crazy I may become, my time with him is precious.  No matter how much we may concern ourselves with cash-flow and this economic “crisis”, we are more than provided for.

Some dear friends of ours just spent the holidays in Africa, ministering for a week at an orphanage there.  When Stuart asked about the conditions at the orphanage, he stated that locals there viewed the place as a palace.  Orphans in the facility were provided with daily meals and got to go to school.  In this area, that was the height of wealth!  Oh people, can you imagine how God, who has a “world-view” of everything happening, listening to us whine about running out of money for this or that?  We must look ridiculous, when there are people all over the world who wake up and begin wondering how they will eat today.  I woke up and wondered what to eat, and whether I had cream for my coffee.

I hope, no matter what your situation today (and it may be a truly difficult one), you can see that there is still so much to be grateful for.  And, if you are a child of God, if you have chosen to be his, then you can take into account that this life here on earth is short and fleeting when compared to eternity in heaven.  Read Jamie’s blog about it.  Wow.

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Pray for the Callaghans

January 9, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized

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Please stop and say a prayer for my dear friend, Belinda, and her family. She’s in the hospital, 29 weeks pregnant, with preeclampsia. They are concerned about her blood pressure and her having the baby early. Please, take a moment to say a prayer for Baby Callaghan to be miraculously strong and for peace and strength for the rest of this lovely family. Love you Belle!!

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First blog of 2009!

January 6, 2009 · Filed under My subjective take on things

I was putting this one off in order to come up with something monumental to write about.  But then I realized that you don’t come here for monumental, right?  You come here to listen to me dramatically exaggerate mundane daily activities.  On with it then.

*Important note.  I have a ginormous bandage on my middle finger due to nearly severing it in a terrible beef stew accident.  (speaking of exaggerating, right?) My typing is labored.  Please excuse it.  BTW: The beef stew rocked.

Anyways, since everyone insists on harping about New Year’s resolutions, I have succumbed to the guilt.  I must improve myself.  Become a better person.  One thing I will NOT resolve to do this year is lose weight.  I find it makes me incredibly grumpy.  And I’m kind of hoping some sort of reverse psychology thing will kick in and by resolving NOT to, my body will rebel and the pounds will fall off.

Resolution #1: I resolve to getting back to more cooking and the use of REAL food in my family’s diet (aka: avoiding food that has been processed to death in order to make it more convenient, cheaper, lower in calories , carbs, or fat, or “more nutritious”).  We will get back to eating food in the form that God intended it.  You can see my opinions on this here, and the book where I got my info is there too.

Resolution #2:  I resolve to do some things for myself this year.  Last year was my first full year as a stay at home mother and wife, and I kind of got lost in it.  I have truly loved it, and still do, but I need a couple of things in my life that are mine and are independent of mothering.  Stu has always been encouraging and willing to help in this, but I have truly not been able to relax and relinquish control until now.  So, this year Stu is moving up to the A Team!  He’s got Blake all to himself for 2 nights out of the week while I pursue other fulfilling activities.

Resolution #3:  I need to be a better housekeeper.  I hate cleaning.  Luckily, my husband is very good at it.  But I need to do better. Wish me luck.

Now, I mostly put these out there because of the peer pressure.  So don’t get all crazy with the accountability.  Let’s not get carried away.

:-)

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