tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81654384879671204862024-03-14T02:24:23.197-04:00Count it Pure JoyScriptures, recipes, books and more. Because self-reflection is a good thing.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.comBlogger423125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-81808369756434366582010-02-09T17:06:00.003-05:002010-02-09T17:09:00.467-05:00Moving...That new blog I mentioned? It's mostly up. It's probably not going to be as anonymous, so I haven't decided if I'm going to link from this one to the new one. If you'd like the address, just send me an email (reneec73 at gmail) and I'll share the new site. I have no current plans to delete this blog, just don't know that I'll be updating it.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-13129345591891368732010-01-08T08:43:00.006-05:002012-10-24T14:57:09.243-04:00Seven Quick Takes, aka I'm Back (Maybe)<br />
1. Last year I kept meaning to participate in Jennifer at <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/">Conversion Diary's </a><a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/2010/01/7-quick-takes-friday-vol-64.html">Seven Quick Takes Friday's</a>, but never managed to, in part because I hadn't started at the beginning of the year. For whatever reason, it really bugged me that I would be coming into it later in the year and I just couldn't do that. Yes, I'm nuts. But hey! It's January! Fresh start time & all of that, so here goes.<br />
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2. No posts here for quite awhile. I'm not entirely sure what happened to me other than what you can imagine; still trying to figure out a schedule and routine for me to blog while taking care of the baby. My respect for writers who manage to continue posting regularly through personal upheaval of all sorts is immense, because when life gets hectic, my blog gets ignored completely.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8D73OXjEAn4/S0c7AS2zHrI/AAAAAAAAAc4/_KTSRriqV0o/s1600-h/7_quick_takes_sm.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>3. I have not read a single book so far in 2010. I haven't even started one. That alone should tell you all that something is wrong with me, or at least has been. And you would be correct. I have been siiiiiiiiccccccckkkkkkkk. I think we picked up something from one of L's relatives at Christmas. He was the first to go down, while I hoped that G & I would avoid it - not an impossible dream since I often avoid colds or even the flu when L is knocked out by them. Alas, not to be this time. New Years Eve Eve it began and I'm still a snotty mess. Fortunately G had a mild case so other than a couple of miserable nights where he slept on me, coughing and hacking and dripping mucus everywhere, he's mostly been ok. And still amazingly happy throughout it all. <br />
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4. I'm trying to set up a new blog but have run into some difficulties. I'm about to concede defeat and go ask L for help. I was trying to avoid that because all he's been doing lately is helping friends and family with their computers. At least this will be a change of pace from the hardware stuff.<br />
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5. Since getting married, we've purchased at least 3 shredders, usually whatever is on sale. Our cheap purchases last for maybe a year or two, then they slowly start dying until eventually they conk out entirely and we begin the process again. After six-months of no working shredder, I finally purchased a new one, and we're sick of buying them so regularly so we bought a more substantial one. One with good ratings that will hopefully take care of our shredding needs long into the future. And it even has some kind of sensor so that if little fingers come too close to it, it shuts down. So no worries of G finding it and shredding himself. Although we should worry about G finding it and pulling it over onto himself, because this thing is HEAVY. <br />
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6. Wondering why I'm taking about G finding things as if he's mobile? Oh, that's because he is. He started army-crawling for real shortly after Thanksgiving. ("For real" = more than just one or two pulls forward.) He crosses the room in seconds if he's motivated (i.e. there's a toy or something he wants over there.) The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas also brought forth his first tooth - a cute little bottom one. <br />
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7. He turns six months tomorrow.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-81530065496297044812009-11-17T15:08:00.002-05:002009-11-17T15:14:25.042-05:00Poor Baby...G had his 4-month doctor's visit yesterday. He looks great, and the doctor couldn't hear the heart murmur he had at his 1-month visit so that's wonderful.<br /><br />What's not so wonderful is the bad timing of the visit in relation to when he wanted to nap, and then the oral vaccine & two shots he received. He was soooooo tired that he was crying when the doctor was just listening to his heart & lungs; he wanted to be left alone to sleep! Then when he got that stuff squirted into his mouth the tears really flowed. All topped off by two shots in his thigh. He was such a sad baby after that. I nursed him for a bit in the room to get him settled down, then he fell asleep in his car set on the drive home, and slept in that for another hour (usually even if he's fallen asleep in the car seat, he wakes up as soon as we stop moving). <br /><br />He was restless all day yesterday, and fairly cranky and tired. He also had a ROUGH night (which means I had a rough night too.) He's napping well today, but I'm trying to decide if I should think about discouring him from napping too much in hopes of a better night's sleep for both of us tonight. <br /><br />Fortunately we won't have to do that again until January.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-44029015305438808822009-11-15T22:17:00.005-05:002009-11-16T10:05:11.009-05:00Weekend Recap<ul type="circle"><li>I washed a mountain of laundry this weekend.<br /><br /></li><li>I have not yet folded or put away said mountain. It currently resides on the futon in the family room.<br /><br /></li><li>I got to the library BY MYSELF. As in, sans child, which meant that I got to drive my car since there was no need for the car seat. I'd forgotten how much fun my car is to drive.<br /><br /></li><li>G has his four-month well-baby doctor's visit tomorrow. I've been dreading it because the poor guy gets shots. Based on how he cries, I'd say that the shots are much harder on his momma than on him.<br /><br /></li><li><del>Not such a good sports weekend. Can I pretend it didn't happen?</del> I wrote too soon! All was redeemed by the amazing finish last night. Which I didn't manage to see thanks to going to bed so early, but the highlights sure were nice. :)<br /><br /></li><li>I made some AWESOME coconut bread. Unfortunately L also thinks it's awesome and he keeps eating it! I thought it would be all mine, but instead I'm having to share. Drat.<br /><br /></li><li>I also made some rice pudding that is not even close to awesome. Unfortunately this one is all mine.<br /><br /></li><li>I cut my finger on the inside of a can while opening it. Now I keep catching it on everything and realizing what an obnoxious spot it's in. Typing isn't easy with it either. <br /><br /></li><li>I think I've postponed enough. Time for me to get to bed.</li></ul>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-57005955308154543372009-11-13T16:52:00.003-05:002009-11-13T16:57:40.353-05:00I Am Such a DorkI just ordered some stuff for myself from one of my <a href="https://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/">favorite stores</a>. Seriously, it's kind of ridiculous how excited I get about ordering from them. I've always got a wish list of items I'd like, and every so often (usually when they've got free shipping offered) I put in an order. And now I just have to wait for my stuff to arrive!<br /><br />What I'm most excited about this time is some bread pans. I've been using incorrectly sized pans for years, and I finally decided to get the 8 inch pans instead of continuing to use 9 inch pans. I hope to see improved results now!<br /><br />I've also got a dough whisk coming, and I'm hoping it's as wonderful as it sounds. Assorted other goodies rounds out my order.<br /><br />So yes, I think my enthusiasm for this officially makes me a dork. But that's ok, I'll admit to it.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-38087531877337786752009-11-11T09:56:00.003-05:002009-11-11T09:59:57.984-05:00Change of PlansDue to a sick child (not my own, fortunately) today's visit by L's aunt and grandmother has been canceled. <br /><br />I feel like my day has just opened up tremendously.<br /><br />L wants to go to Chili's for lunch. I'd hate to disappoint him, so I suppose he'll just have to drag us along. ;) <br /><br />I'm sure that will mean he won't be up for lasagna for dinner. I'm beginning to think that this lasagna is destined to not ever happen. Although I guess if I have the energy to make it, I could then just stash it in the fridge to bake tomorrow. That would probaby work pretty well, just depending on if I can get to it today. Because despite it being a holiday, L will be working.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-40541679204831913642009-11-10T18:15:00.003-05:002009-11-10T18:20:16.112-05:00Dinnertime ScrambleI've got potato cheese soup cooking for dinner, but it's not looking or tasting right, so I'm not sure if we'll be eating it or scrambling for something else instead.<br /><br />It's been a rough stretch recently for dinners - unsuccessful new recipes and uninspired meals scrounged up when I haven't had a plan at all.<br /><br />Lasagna would have been good, I'm pretty sure anyway, I just never managed to fix it because the baby wasn't letting me put him down long enough to make it. I'm hoping to try tomorrow since L has the day off and should be able to wrangle his son. <br /><br />The only reason I'm not sure it will happen is because L's grandmother and aunt are both coming over to see the baby and may make it so I can't get to the lasagna. You'd think it'd be easier with them around (and it should), but I'll probably have to visit with them. (These crazy extraverts who otherwise get their feelings hurt if I'm trying to hide in the kitchen.)<br /><br />I'll guess I'll just see what happens...Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-14662403323529211822009-11-09T16:29:00.003-05:002009-11-09T16:35:35.688-05:00Turning into a StereotypeG and I had quite the outing today. I took him in to my old workplace to show him off. He was so good throughout his time being handed from one person to the next. Then we went to lunch together - he fell asleep during the drive so I went through the drive-thru and then ate my sandwich in the truck so I wouldn't disturb him by moving him. After I finished I went to Trader Joe's and read in the parking lot until he woke up (I was trying to avoid him having too short of a nap leading to extreme crankiness later in the day.) We made a semi-quick trip through the store once he was awake, then it was back home. <br /><br />He's fallen asleep again now, I think all the excitement did wear him out. And I need to see about getting some more accomplished with my day. Like perhaps paying bills and laundry and wonderful things like that.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-78014548331676386572009-11-08T12:41:00.002-05:002009-11-08T12:44:11.292-05:00So SuccessfulAt this blogging every day thing I mean. I lasted less than a week. Gah.<br /><br />So it's Sunday and that means FOOTBALL. In addition to watching the Colts play, I plan to make lasagna and tollhouse pie. Yummm. We'll see how that goes because the baby does not always cooperate with my plans. He's snoozing now, which gives me the chance to get a post up and then get myself some lunch.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-77784895126793713252009-11-05T13:57:00.002-05:002009-11-05T14:01:48.258-05:00ThanksgivingIt's only three weeks away. I repeat, it's only. three. weeks. away.<br /><br />How is this possible? <br /><br />I'm kind of freaking myself out with thoughts of what I'd like to accomplish before the end of the year. I think I need to rein myself in a bit, even if I'd like to go for it all. (<a href="http://countitpurejoy.blogspot.com/2009/10/time-management.html">sound familiar?)</a><br /><br />I should probably start with a list of absolute, must do's, then expand from there into would like to do's.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-68783821339758912512009-11-04T15:28:00.002-05:002009-11-04T20:25:19.602-05:00New Door!Our new garage door is in and looks great! We've got a new motor, keypad, trim etc. Much better than the old one with the huge crack and large hole in it, as well as a motor that needed lots of encouragement when the temperatures dipped. It should make it much warmer too this winter - the new door has significantly more insulation than the old one (something like a 10 versus a 3 I think it was). <br /><br />Happily, they even had one available in a good color that coordinates with the house already and doesn't seem to need to be painted. I say "seem to" because it might be a little too glossy and end up looking odd, but it'll make it through the winter and in the spring we'll reevaluate it and may paint it if it'll look better with a flatter finish.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-19218006983295744552009-11-03T21:11:00.003-05:002009-11-03T21:14:02.294-05:00Baby StuffHow do I balance enjoying the baby & all of that with also documenting/preserving memories? I thought of a story about him today that I should blog. Of course right at that moment I was in the midst of feeding him, so I couldn't write it down. Now, I have no idea what it was.<br /><br />I don't want to forget his babyhood, but I also want to enjoy it while it's happening and not ignore him to write things down or photograph him etc.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-74429066673966629682009-11-02T15:26:00.003-05:002009-11-02T15:38:17.663-05:00Things I Haven't Been Doing Lately<ul type="circle"><li>Posting the books I've read. I've read them, just haven't updated my widget or posted the monthly lists.<br /><br /></li><li>The exercises my physical therapist gave me. And my back and wrist are letting me know I've been neglecting them.<br /><br /></li><li>Sending those last few thank you notes. They're not really that late; I got a couple of gift cards in the mail in the last month, so it's not like they're from before G was born. But still, I need to get them written.<br /><br /></li><li>Walking with G. The weather is beautiful right now, but it seems like I only think about it when he's sleeping or about to go to sleep. Such as right now, he's napping but I'm ready to go.<br /><br /></li><li>Driving my car. Our garage door is broken, and the car is trapped behind the non-working door. At least the truck was outside when the door broke so we can use it.<br /><br /></li><li>Stopping by my former place of employment to show off the baby. This I blame on L who has had doctor's appointments every morning since our return due to his back. He's got the truck, so I can't go anywhere, and by the time he gets back it's been too late for me to leave. However! We're getting our garage door replaced on Wednesday so we will now be able to get the car out of the garage so we can both go to different places at the same time. Amazing how that will work.<br /><br /></li><li>Returning a few phone calls. No good reason other than by the time they'd be home from work, I'm tired and not up for talking, and they're going to want more than a five-minute conversation. I think I need to try and reach them on a weekend.</li></ul><br /><br />The above may make me seem like a huge slacker. Not true, I've been busy and have gotten lots of other stuff done, some items even that had been waiting awhile. I just still have more before I feel caught-up from, oh, last fall.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-5920682242853640452009-11-01T22:19:00.001-05:002009-11-02T15:25:56.842-05:00NaBlPoMo, AgainI did it in <a href="http://countitpurejoy.blogspot.com/2007/11/nablopomo.html">2007</a> (more or less, but the effort was there). So I'm trying again. <br /><br />And this counts as a post, as far as I'm concerned. I spent the day baking and cooking and cleaning. Oh, and taking care of a almost-four-month-old. Now it's late & my bed is calling me...Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-16052667792382417682009-10-27T21:14:00.002-04:002009-10-27T21:26:22.769-04:00Time ManagementDuring a discussion at lunch today, I came to a sad realization. <em>I can't do it all.</em> Earth-shattering, I know. <br /><br />I <em>want</em> to be able to do more. But it really hit me this afternoon that no matter how much I want it, I can't manage to do everything I'd like. I'm not sure why I'm having such a hard time accepting this, but there you have it.<br /><br />Outside of the "have-to's" that I'd be happy not doing (house cleaning, grocery shopping, bill paying, etc.) there are four big areas where I choose to spend my time: pleasure reading, baking, blogging, and watching tv. I can do two of them easily. I can generally manage three of them when things aren't completely crazy on the home front (say, with a new baby or a husband disabled by a bad back and unable to do ANYTHING. It's been exhausting.) All four just doesn't happen. <br /><br />My preference would be to drop tv. Other than Colts games and Top Chef I could skip it all and not miss it. But L really prefers me to watch some with him in the evenings, and so I do. This month it's pretty obviously been blogging that's been ignored. Actually, it's been baking too but that's due to L's injury requiring so much more time from me. <br /><br />I'm debating how to handle it. So far I'm leaning towards lumping reading & blogging and alternating them; one day I do one and then next day the other. Or more likely, two days reading, one day blogging. That should hopefully keep my reading needs satisfied and still keep me writing (because I don't want to stop). <br /><br />What I really need to do is stop the aimless internet surfing which I find myself doing at times. Why do I do that?Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-4630702451408833052009-09-30T21:09:00.000-04:002009-09-30T21:45:58.445-04:00September BakingI almost made it 30-for-30, but one Monday tripped me up. G was cluster-feeding and I didn't manage to get semi-prepared during his one real nap of the day and then by the time I did have time it was 9:30 and I just was too tired to do anything. Sigh. I was surprisingly disappointed that I couldn't make it to a perfect string. <br /><br />But, here's what I learned in my month of baking:<ul><li>It's easiest if I prep for whatever it is I'm going to bake as soon as I can. What I mean is measuring everything and having it ready to go, so that if need be I can dump ingredients into a mixing bowl with one hand while the other holds the baby.<br /></li><li>Bread is not that scary. And it is sooooo goooood it's worth the effort.<br /></li><li>Apparently I do not ever get tired of chocolate.<br /></li><li>Tyler Florence has a killer coconut bread recipe.<br /></li><li>Everything I've ever tried by Dorie Greenspan is killer.<br /></li><li>Pie crust is also not that scary. But it is impossible to roll while holding a baby or even wearing him, so plan accordingly.<br /></li><li>I counted baking from a mix twice. Because my point in this month was mostly to clear out my backlog of new recipes, but also to clear out my baking cabinet of odds-and-ends, which included some mixes.<br /></li><li>I love love LOVE trying new recipes. I thought I'd get annoyed by it or something, but nope, never did. In fact it inspired me to continue with it even more. Details to follow.<br /></li><li>I need to trust my instincts, because I had a recipe that was a complete disaster and I thought it seemed weird when I was preparing it. I should have followed my gut.<br /></li><li>L never questioned what I was doing with all the baking, or what was going on. He just enjoyed it.</li></ul>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-79021795996019243702009-09-28T10:58:00.002-04:002009-09-28T11:05:17.976-04:00I Love This Time of YearAnd by "this time of year," I mean, of course, football season. (Something tells me Jennifer knew what I meant). <br /><br />I watched a ridiculous amount of football both Saturday and Sunday. I completely enjoyed some of the games (see: USF on Saturday, and the Colts on Sunday), and was very disappointed in others (see: IU on Saturday, and the Steelers, Dolphins, and Falcons on Sunday). <br /><br />What I am NOT crazy about is the late start for Sunday (and Monday) night games for those of us in the Eastern time zone. I fell asleep before the end of the Colts game yesterday. So what if the game was all but over, I still couldn't manage to stay awake to actually see it end. Tonight I don't even know if I'll make it to halftime of the game. This is when I miss living in the Mountain or Pacific time zones. I could watch games until the end! And not regret it the next day even!<br /><br />I forgot to put G in his Colts outfit yesterday. He's got an aunt who is a RABID Colts fan so she made sure he would be appropriately attired for the season. That and she wanted to preempt him from possibly having his first sports clothing be for any other team.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-58831446561623214072009-09-19T12:58:00.007-04:002009-09-19T13:20:38.463-04:00Baby Updates<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2496/3934792878_068d9b0601.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/3934003365_f67d50fb3e.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />G had his 2 month appointment this week. Two months! I know, every mom says it, but still. It seems impossible that it's been two months already. And I still haven't managed to write up his birth story. <br /><br />The big news from his appointment was his stats - 26 inches long and 14 pounds 5 ounces. Let me repeat that: FOURTEEN POUNDS, FIVE OUNCES. a.k.a. a whole lotta baby. <br /><br />And let's not overlook that length; it's 99th percentile and 4 inches more than his birth length. No wonder I feel like he eats a lot.<br /><br />Everything looks good with him other than his moderate-to-severe case of cradle cap. He's quite scaly, and the doctor suggested using dandruff shampoo twice a week. If only I'd remembered to buy some at the store...<br /><br />Not so good news is his bottle strike. It began with just him needing lots of encouragement to take a bottle. Then it was refusing a bottle now & then. Then always refusing the bottle. And now it doesn't matter what's in the bottle; he reacts as if we're torturing him by offering it. <br /><br />This does not bode well for me ever leaving the boy.<br /><br />He's still super cute though!Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-38587955336322086402009-09-13T09:45:00.007-04:002009-09-14T11:14:18.049-04:00Weekly Menu Plan<a target="_blank" href="http://orgjunkie.com/2009/09/menu-plan-monday-sept-14th.html"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 154px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8D73OXjEAn4/Sqz5WeA9V2I/AAAAAAAAAco/1fzJy3nymw4/s320/mpmpencil.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380949819210422114" /></a><br /><br />Sunday - leftovers<br /><br />Monday - baked gnocchi<br /><br />Tuesday - <a href="http://countitpurejoy.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-i-fix.html#quesadillas">black bean quesadillas</a><br /><br />Wednesday - baked mushroom risotto with steak<br /><br />Thursday - <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/linguine-with-butter-pecorino-arugula-and-black-pepper-recipe/index.html">linguine with butter and pecorino</a><br /><br />Friday - minestrone soup and homemade bread<br /><br />Saturday - pizzaReneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-11940418988573633122009-09-08T13:22:00.000-04:002009-09-08T13:22:00.508-04:00August BooksRobin Elise Weiss - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/150-Tips-Tricks-New-Moms/dp/1605503487/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252258949&sr=1-1">150 Tips and Tricks for New Moms: From Those Frantic First Days to Baby’s First Birthday: Everything You Need to Know to Enjoy Your New Addition</a><br /><br />Charlaine Harris - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeares-Trollop-Lily-Bard-Book/dp/0425196992/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252258979&sr=1-1">Shakespeare’s Trollop </a><br /><br />Alan Gordon – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Larks-Lament-Fools-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/0312382022/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252259038&sr=1-2">The Lark’s Lament</a><br /><br />Elizabeth George - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mom-After-Gods-Own-Heart/dp/0736915729/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252259079&sr=1-1">A Mom After God’s Own Heart: 10 Ways To Love Your Children</a><br /><br />Nevada Barr - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Borderline-Anna-Pigeon-Nevada-Barr/dp/0399155694/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252259150&sr=1-1">Borderline</a><br /><br />Elizabeth M. Ward - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Expect-Best-Pregnancy-American-Association/dp/0470290765/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252259186&sr=1-1">Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, & After Pregnancy</a> <br /><br />George Barna - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Church-You-Call-Home/dp/0830715002/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1252259216&sr=1-3">Finding a Church You Can Call Home: The Complete Guide to Making One of the Most Signifi-cant Decisions of Your Life</a><br /><br />Laura Hunter and Jennifer Walker - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moms-Call-Guide-Basic-Baby/dp/0800731883/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252257806&sr=8-1">The Moms on Call Guide to Basic Baby Care: The First 6 Months</a><br /><br />Beverly Connor - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grave-Diane-Fallon-Forensic-Investigation/dp/0451411196/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252257852&sr=8-1">One Grave Too Many</a><br /><br />Jan Burke - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Jan-Burke/dp/074344454X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252257885&sr=8-1">Nine</a><br /><br />Sue Grafton - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/T-Trespass-Kinsey-Millhone-Mystery/dp/0425224848/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252257942&sr=1-1">T is for Trespass</a><br /><br />Erin Hart - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lake-Sorrows-Novel-Erin-Hart/dp/1416541306/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252257970&sr=1-1">Lake of Sorrows</a><br /><br />Gladys M. Hunt - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Childs-Heart-Imaginative-Family/dp/B001TIIKOK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252257996&sr=1-1">Honey for a Child's Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Successful-Breastfeeding-Royal-College-Midwives/dp/0443059675/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252258031&sr=1-1">Royal College of Midwives - Successful Breastfeeding</a><br /><br />La Reine Chabut - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lose-That-Baby-Fat-Baby/dp/1590771028/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252258063&sr=1-1">Lose That Baby Fat! Bouncing Back the First Year after Having a Baby</a><br /><br />Rick Warren - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Warrens-Bible-Study-Methods/dp/0310273005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252258086&sr=1-1">Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word</a><br /><br />Stephanie Barron - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Stillroom-Maid-Austen-Mystery/dp/0553578375/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252258106&sr=1-1">Jane and the Stillroom Maid</a><br /><br />Conrad Allen - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Marmora-Shipboard-Featuring-Genevieve/dp/0312307918/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252258131&sr=1-1">Murder on the Marmora</a>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-90045148782961313492009-09-07T06:08:00.001-04:002009-09-07T09:59:49.384-04:00Weekly Menu Plan<a target="_blank" href="http://orgjunkie.com/2009/09/menu-plan-monday-sept-7th.html"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 154px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8D73OXjEAn4/SqQ0zL6A_GI/AAAAAAAAAcg/EfX5gkVbjm8/s320/mpmpencil.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378481908961311842" /></a><br /><br />Sunday - Leftovers supplemented with fresh corn on the cob.<br /><br />Monday - Mexican rice skillet. <br /><br />Tuesday - <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foodnetwork.com%2Frecipes%2Fgiada-de-laurentiis%2Fpenne-with-beef-and-arugula-recipe%2Findex.html&ei=SDOkSsjpO4LkNcWwyN8P&rct=j&q=penne+with+beef+and+arugula&usg=AFQjCNET0bNm6ivLUsSfm0tqYJzh2JfruQ&sig2=VW2qjQnsShEsEzd_dnpFxQ">Penne with beef & arugula</a>.<br /><br />Wednesday - <a href="http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=2059">Lentil sloppy joes</a>.<br /><br />Thursday - Homemade <a href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/pizza-crust-recipe">PIZZA</a> in honor of the NFL season starting.<br /><br />Friday - Clean out the fridge!Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-82253594888553198522009-09-06T12:33:00.007-04:002009-09-12T22:50:07.715-04:00September GoalsFor no other reasons then I think it's time for me to start accomplishing more than just surviving day to day, I'm setting some goals for myself for the month:<br /><ol><li>Read the Bible everyday. I'm out of the habit since having the baby, and need to get back into it. <br /></li><li>Bake something new every day. So far I'm 5-for-5, and have a variety of recipes picked out that require varying amounts of energy so I can tailor them to my day. Update: I'm 12-for-12!<br /></li><li>Blog twice a week at minimum. <br /></li><li>Meet people for lunch twice (one down!)<br /></li><li>Take G in to work to show him off<br /></li><li><del>Set up online portfolio with pictures of G to share with friends & family easily.</del> <br /></li><li>Submit receipts for FSA reimbursement.<br /></li><li><del>Call the hospital about bill; think they've forgotten to credit me with some that was already paid.</del><br /></li><li>Take recycling to bin & glass to store for deposit.<br /></li><li>Buy some (3 or so) new tops that work for nursing. (Update: I've got 1. I'm going to have to order some online for the rest.)<br /></li><li>Pay the hospital & doctor bills</li></ol>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-25670147348528642812009-09-03T19:50:00.003-04:002009-09-03T20:06:07.397-04:00Still HereI *hope* (no, really, I'm serious) to start blogging more regularly this month. And by regularly, I'm thinking twice a week. Last week I had a visitor (hi Susan!) and felt like my limited time with a functioning brain should be spent talking with her rather than writing here. She can attest to just how little time that is; I felt like most of the time I was saying how tired I am and how I couldn't wait to go to bed as soon as G would let me.<br /><br />And speaking of G, he's doing well. He's generally very happy, as long as mama holds him. He's content to spend a little time with others, or in his bouncy seat, or gazing at his activity gym, but generally he tires of that after about 10 minutes or so and wants to go back to me. I've almost perfected internet surfing with one hand, because I've got a lot of time where he's dozing in my arms, and will wake up if I put him down, but is out of it enough where I can fritter my time away looking at blogs or recipe sites. If I could figure out how to write using only a mouse there would be a lot more posts here I can tell you.<br /><br />G discovered his mobile a couple of weeks ago and that's a sure-fire way for me to get some time for me to run to the bathroom, or get a snack, and he's so enthralled in the motion that he doesn't care that I've left him. I'm trying not to overuse it lest it loses its effectiveness.<br /><br />I'm hoping to get out of the house soon to go shopping - I fairly desperately need a few nursing tops; making do with my old shirts isn't working so well and if I hope to nurse in public I'll be better off with more than two shirts that allow it modestly. So far my desire for the shirts hasn't outweighed my reluctance to drag him with me to shops & squeeze into the dressing room as I try things on - just the logistics seem like more trouble than I'm wanting to handle right now. I could leave him with L and go out alone, but in the evenings after dinner I'm too tired to face it. Perhaps this weekend...<br /><br />G still has some issues with his dad - he won't look at him (as in make eye contact or even look at his face in general), and often in the evenings he doesn't want to be held by him at all. He does better earlier in the day still fortunately, but I hope that the outgrows this evening thing soon. I just feel so bad for L!Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-56091112144188219642009-08-21T17:21:00.004-04:002009-08-21T17:41:55.226-04:00Obviously...I'm not doing so well at regularly blogging right now. Can't imagine why.<br /><br />Some of it is just that there isn't much going on in my life other than the obvious, taking care of G. And that isn't really very different day-to-day. Life at six weeks is about the same as it was at four weeks. I'm trying to get as much sleep as possible, and keep us fed and the house somewhat presentable. Beyond that... I've got nothing.<br /><br />I am thinking about some bloggy changes. Not quitting the blog, just some changes...<br /><br />I have lots of ideas of things I'd like to do, both online and in real life, but naptime is too short. And I have to remind myself that I've still been recovering from the c-section. At what point is that excuse too old to use anymore? Probably today, since I'm officially no longer "disabled" as far as work is concerned and I should have been back at work today. I still have another 6 weeks through FMLA, but if I couldn't take unpaid leave I'd have had to be back today.<br /><br />Honestly, that seems completely crazy to me. In no way are either of us ready for me to be working full time again already. I am so grateful that I have the flexibility & didn't have to return so soon.<br /><br />Six weeks. It's flown by. I'm sure the next six weeks will too.<br /><br />I'm so blessed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2594/3821027059_cbafe77305.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2594/3821027059_cbafe77305.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165438487967120486.post-58283183430232074212009-08-13T16:20:00.002-04:002009-08-13T16:33:52.375-04:00One MonthG had his one month well baby visit yesterday. He's not gained as much weight as they would like, so I'm being encouraged to supplement with formula. I am discouraged about that.<br /><br />G also has a small heart murmur which the doctor said is not uncommon, and with most kids it disappears by their first birthday, but still, I'd rather he not have one at all.<br /><br />And, G has now decided that he hates his father and only wants me to hold him. I feel so bad for L and also would like to rest my arms and back at times. <br /><br />I sound really negative with that, so let's focus on the positive. G is starting to smile, especially if you tickle his chin or cheek. It's absolutely enchanting. <br /><br />He also is quite strong, and turns himself from one side to the other when we put him to sleep. I fully expect him to completely turn over in the not so distant future. He also tries to stand and is more successful at it than I'd expect from such a young baby. <br /><br />His face is still a mess - too many hormones have him quite rashy. I hope that clears up soon so his pictures start looking better. <br /><br />Nursing is absolutely one of his favorite things - and he seems to be quite the foodie in that he smacks his lips and nibbles at me as if he's proclaiming over an exquisite morsel or fine bottle of wine. And then he's had enough of that and he dive-bombs right in for his meal. It's one of the funniest sights! And sounds too, because he's very vocal about it - lots of coos and grunts and other noises. <br /><br />I'm finding more time to read than I'd expected (what with all the nursing) but less time to write or do anything else that requires more than one hand. We're still not on any real routine, but I'm hoping that soon it will happen. I seem to be able to manage maybe 3 tasks in a day besides taking care of him. Typically that means dinner, a load of laundry and one other thing. <br /><br />I'd hoped to make a dash to the library today during lunch, leaving G with his father, but G decided he wasn't interested in eating anywhere near a time that would allow that to happen. Maybe tomorrow, or else I'll be paying some late fees.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763036860412775202noreply@blogger.com3