OKC and you know me

The hubs, Britton, and Memaw are visiting the hubs' Granny in Oklahoma City for a couple of days.  Not wanting the hassle and grief of traveling with a baby, I offered to keep Barrett home.  They've been running around town, showing Britton the city she hasn't seen since she was one year old, and eating at all our old favorite restaurants.  Britton is at a great age to visit Oklahoma City, and the weather is cooperating perfectly for her - no snow in OKC!  

At the hospital where she was born (they also went by our old house and Britton's first daycare)...

Ted's - yummy Mexican food - for lunch, and the girl still has a thing for the queso and chips...

Some Western wear.  And every little girl should have a pink rhinestone heart belt...

In between photo updates from the hubs, I've been fiddling with the master bathroom.  This is the last room left.  I haven't done a thing to it, not even painted over the icky ivy stenciled border around the ceiling.  We had big plans last year - rip it all out, make it all new, but our enthusiasm has waned.  Mostly because we don't want to over-invest in this house, especially to remodel a room we use less than an hour a day.  We're fine with the idea of a little paint and some new towel rods and accessories, but neither of us care to go through a big remodel project.  

So, I'm working on painting those stenciled walls, and trying to whittle down my choices.  Wythe Blue, my first choice, is too dark.  Sea Salt is too light.  I thought I was decided on Rainwashed, but then when I went into the bathroom this evening, the Rainwashed looked too light and the Palladian Blue looked just right (of course, this afternoon the Palladian Blue looked too blue).  I must remind myself - it's just a bathroom!

So I am trying to decide once and for all.  And keeping myself busy until my hubs and Britton come home and make this house loud again.

snow for days

I was fine when a little snow showed up on Thursday, even nonchalant about Friday's random flurries. But then, on Friday night, it started snowing and just hasn't stopped!  Britton and I attempted to get to a playdate on Saturday morning, and had to turn around when we encountered roads that hadn't been plowed.  Then the library's "Mother -Daughter Princess Tea Party" was cancelled.  So I had to just give in and accept that we weren't leaving the house ever again.

Fine, a little but dramatic, but when I realized the snow was piling up the walls quickly started closing in!  I decided we needed some distraction, pronto!  Britton and I started in the kitchen, making Memaw's Amish bread.  Then we cleaned my master bathroom.  Actually, I cleaned and Britton did that kid "helping" thing where all she really wanted was to squeeze the Windex bottle 500 times.  By this morning, we were out of indoor chores and moved the party outside.  And shoveled the driveway!

Of course, it wasn't all work!  The hubs took Britton out on the four-wheeler for a spin down the street and through the yard.

Barrett missed out on all the outdoor fun, poor thing.  Don't worry - he got his revenge by refusing to eat dinner and then losing his cool completely with a full-on meltdown.  Toothing pain plus no nap means we are all over this weather.  Here's to leaving the house tomorrow!

I went amish, and I liked it

I have these random memories of wearing little corduroy jumpers with appliqué owls and alphabets and the like, always with a turtleneck and a sassy grin.  I was probably in preschool at the time.  And since my nostalgia is in high-gear these days, I wanted to make a jumper for Britton.  I don't make a lot of clothing, so I figured I'd give it go and hope for the best!  I checked out JoAnns, found some small wale grey corduroy and a bumble bee appliqué, then discovered a pattern online.

You can't see here because she has her jacket on, but I also put on yellow flower buttons on the shoulder straps.  Britton loved it!  I spotted some beautiful red seersucker too, so a summer peasant dress may be in the works soon!  This clothing-making spell might stick around after all.

nostalgia, the anti-letting go

Boomerang nostalgia.  I don't even know if that's a real term, or if it completely describes what I've been feeling, but it's as close as I'm going to get.  We are securely into that lull between the festivities and time off work from Christmas and the warmer spring days yet to come.  So lately, we've all just been going to work/school during the week, and running errands intermixed with little adventures on the weekend.  Because we haven't been busy, I've been directing my energy to two things:  sewing (no surprise there), and cleaning out.

It all started with Christmas.  We all got such incredibly thoughtful and functional presents that they instantly became the things we use now.  Barrett and Britton's new clothes went directly into their closets, I used my new mixing bowls from Jessica on Christmas afternoon, and the hubs put on the boots I gave him and hasn't taken them off.  Now, I am in process of clearing out the old/broken/not-as-good-as-what-we-got stuff, some to go directly to the trash and some things to be donated.  And once I start clearing out, I want my house as clear as a model home.  Which honestly, is never going to happen, because no one has to actually LIVE in a model home!

The one area where I can't seem to make any progress is Barrett's stuff.  He has baby toys he has long outgrown, and I can't bring myself to put them away.  Yesterday I realized that he doesn't really need his highchair anymore - the booster seat with tray that straps to a chair would be fine.  And yet, I can't do it.  I can't move the high chair to the basement.  Because, in all honesty, once it's moved to the basement, I know it's leaving my house.  There will be no third child to save everything for - and believe you me, I don't have any desire to have a third child!  But everything that Barrett outgrows will have to be sold/donated/thrown away, unless I want to be featured on "Hoarders."  And I don't want to let go of any of it.  The highchair isn't just primary-colored plastic - it's where BOTH of my kids picked up a cheerio and fed themselves for the first time.  It's where Britton dumped applesauce and Barrett throws his hand into any drop of baby food that hits the tray.

I've decided to just wait, until the neat freak in me overrides the nostalgic mother trying to figure out why I should keep a lamb rattle.  And then ask the hubs to take it all to Goodwill, since I don't think I could hand over all this baby stuff without crying in front of the workers!

children's museum visit

This morning, Britton and I went to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum with her friend Sophia and Sophia's mom.  It was our first time there, but they had been before and showed us the ropes.  First thing I noticed - this museum is not really a museum!  Britton asked if we were going to see dinosaur bones.  Nope!  The museum is more of a hands-on, experience it all firsthand, thing, with each "exhibit" centered around each room in a house - the nursery, garage, attic, studio, and workshop.

First up, the workshop!  Britton got to sew with a real needle for the first time!  I had promised her recently that I would teach her to sew, so when they had real needles, thread, and fabric, I figured now was the best time.  She loved it and was so proud of herself!

The nursery had quiet activities, including all of the puppets from "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood."  I got a picture of Lady Elaine Fairchilde for Jessica, because this character has freaked us out since childhood!  

The third floor is Waterplay, and I read online to bring extra clothes.  So glad I heeded that advice, because it allowed Britton to get into the activities without me fretting over her, telling her to watch out every five seconds.  As you will see, the smock was purely decorative, as it didn't stop her from kneeling in the water!

A water tornado!  It was so cool that I grabbed some ribbons and tried it out myself

The attic.  See those things on the wall?  They are puppets, and not the cute kinds.  These puppets were downright creepy, and if such things existed in my own attic, I would be convinced that they would become alive and kill me in my sleep!  One cool puppet they did have was one from "The Dark Crystal," but the others just weirded me out.

The garage was right up there with the water play as far as fun activities.  Britton even got to make one of the "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" trollies!  (And conveniently available for purchase in the gift shop for $70.  Well played, museum, well played.  But momma ain't no fool!).  

A special exhibit - "Tapescape."  Yes, tunnels made out of tape!  Sophia's mom and I thought it looked like something out of "Alien" but the girls enjoyed figuring out the tunnels.

The studio's theme was "bubbles," but we were running out of time and decided to forego the bubble painting and collages.  The atrium of the studio was amazing - long ribbons hung from the ceiling, and the girls loved it.  Heck, I'm trying to figure out how to pull this off in my own house!

We spent a good two and a half hours there, and could've stayed even longer, if we had planned on it!  It was a really enjoyable time, and a reminder to me that we should keep exploring the fun activities available to us here.  And remember to invite friends to share in those experiences with us.  A great day!

barrett: 8 months old

Look who snuck his helmet off for some Glamour Shots!  Ok, I admit that I was a bit (actually, a lot) of a Debbie Downer about Barrett's helmet.  Why see the rainbow when you can see the rain?  Barrett hasn't had any troubles adjusting to his helmet and he's wearing it 23 hours a day now.  

Barrett just has the best disposition.  He's a happy baby, though the menacing tooth trying to pop out of his upper gums will throw him into a tizzy fit pretty quickly!  He's eating stage 2 baby food now, with a jar at breakfast and lunch, one at snack time, and one or two for dinner.  Barrett still has 3-4 bottles a day too, with one before each nap and before bed.  His favorite foods right now are veggies and beef, beets, anything with sweet potatoes and apples, puffs, and any kind of bread.  And he's using his sippy cup by himself now, though he does prefer to let me hold it for him.  Or he just chucks it off the highchair, and gleefully waits for you to return it so he can send it off the edge again.

Before Christmas, Barrett had started sleeping through the night.  Man, was I ever ready for that!  But then Barrett got sick, then got his helmet, and ever since has taken advantage of my good nature and gets up twice a night to eat!  He's eating a full bottle at each wake, so it's not like he's doing it to be ornery.  But still.  It's getting old!

Some stats - he's over 23 pounds now (nothing specific until his 9 month wellness visit), his 12 month clothing is getting a little tight, and just got into size 4 diapers.  He has figured out his pincher grasp now, and can pick up his puffs individually and get them into his mouth (most of the time).  He can sit up by himself and likes to knock down his stacking cups.  

What's this paper behind me?

Is this your paper, Mommy?

Likes:  when you sing and dance around him, playing "Pat-a-Cake," chewing on everything, being tickled, bath time

Dislikes:  being dressed in his onesie and sleep sack for bed (but not being dressed in the morning), when his teething gives him trouble

weekend medley

Instead of spending the weekend worrying about the real-life "The Day After Tomorrow" winter freeze heading our way, we decided to throw caution to the wind, forgo the canned food stocking, and hang out.  

On Saturday morning, Britton asked me to make her Cinderella's hat.  I had no idea what she was asking for, so I asked her if she meant Cinderella's crown.  No, she meant Cinderella's hat!  As in, Cinderella's handkerchief.  So we went down to the workshop and Britton picked out some fabric.  Then she decided she needed a "long dress" for her rags, and a pocket for Gus and Jaq the mice to hang out in.  Lo and behold, I caught her scrubbing the floors!

Barrett has been rocking his helmet, and his bath time is when he gets a break from it.  Memaw and PawPaw gave Barrett this ducky tub for Christmas, since he was outgrowing his Whale of a Tub.  I know every picture of Barrett makes this kid look like he's constantly surprised, but I promise he does smile!

Memaw used her tote bag, and even reminded me to get pictures of it!  One of my two readers, right there.  Here's the front - handprints with stitched names underneath, navy with white pin dot accent fabric, and red ric rac.

The back and lining are this beautiful sailboat fabric.  

Britton is really into tea parties lately.  Ever since we signed up for a "Mommy Daughter Tea Party" at the library, her interest is piqued.  She took out this miniature tea set and put on a tea party for her Winnie.  The hubs cracked up when he saw the tiny peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the plate!

A great weekend, and just relaxing enough that when it hits below zero tomorrow, we'll be ready to chop the firewood.  Between this impending storm and spending the morning shoveling the driveway, we're ready for winter to be over!

53 months old

Quick update on New Year's Eve - Britton woke up five minutes before the ball dropped, came downstairs to snuggle and see Ryan Seacrest in all his glory, counted down from ten, then cheered "Happy New Year!" Then she went back to bed.  And got up.  So hard to come down from the excitement of debauchery at the tender age of four!

Britton has decided that the winter is too long here.  Man, I can't blame her.  She does best when she can get outside regularly, run around in the soft grass with no shoes, and wear a swimsuit for no reason.  Don't get me wrong - this girl loves her sled and building snowmen, and chilly walks where we take a shortcut through a neighbor's yard to get home sooner because our noses are so chilly they will freeze off unless we get inside now.  But life is just easier when you aren't bundling up as cozy as Randy from "A Christmas Story."

Lately, in that lull after Barrett goes to bed and Britton hasn't yet gone upstairs for her bath, we've been having special "Mommy-Daddy-Britton time."  We've taken turns putting on Barbie plays (the hubs' Oregon Trail of Tears medley is not to be missed!) and using Britton's spirograph, practicing letters and writing words, and dressing up her American Girl doll.  Any activity that doesn't involve a screen!  After it gets warmer we will go back to taking our evening walks, but for now we're enjoying this time, just us.

The hubs, Britton, Memaw, and PawPaw are going to Oklahoma City to visit Granny (PawPaw's mother) at the end of the month, and Britton is so excited to go on a plane again!  She hasn't been back to Oklahoma City since she was newly one year old and we moved to Dallas/Fort Worth.  I'm staying home with the baby, since taking him on a plane and entertaining/eating/getting him to sleep in a hotel room is not something I want to do.  Britton can point out Oklahoma on a USA map, and she loves the giant illustrated map at school because for Oklahoma it shows Native Americans on horseback in their tribal costumes.  The hubs has been making good use of the Pocahontas doll in his nightly plays, and now Britton gets a kick out of Native Americans being some of her daddy's ancestors!

Likes:  ballet, her LeapPad2, painting, pink glitter glue, tickling Barrett, dramatic plays and acting (especially if she's pretending to be a princess), her huge princess books from Aunt Jessica (which give us a new story or two every night), flannel sheets

Dislikes:  being woken up early, it being dark outside so early now (before 5:00)