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On Thursday we’re heading to my in-laws’ house to celebrate my brother- and sister-in-law’s pregnancy and my nephew’s first birthday. I’m looking forward to getting away for a big. I’m looking forward to being with family.
Here’s what on our short menu this week:
On Friday, Josh took some time to clean up our porch. Some dirt had fallen down onto it, as had an empty cardboard box or two and some dead leaves. There were a few spider webs hanging out (they seem to be spun daily), so I was totally hands-off of this household chore.
It’s amazing what a clean-swept floor and some new (free!) chairs can do for the decor of porch. For the first time since moving into this apartment, Josh and I were able to really use our porch space. And! Jude was finally able to play on the porch. Up until this point it has just been too dirty or cluttered. Now, after installing some screen around the porch railing and the rain gutter planters earlier in the season, and cleaning the space top to bottom, it’s finally a Jude-friendly space.
Well, it has finally happened. Jude has gotten bitten by the Mac bug. It started off innocently enough; we watched movies on my MacBook Pro in iTunes and Super Hero Squad in QuickTime Player. Soon, Jude was requesting he be allowed to “check his email,” and so we moved on to him typing in an empty document in TextEdit (it didn’t take long for him to learn how to make capital letters by holding down the “Shift” keys). And now, we’re on to different toddler-friendly gaming websites (well, some are educational, I guess). Jude has mastered the trackpad, can switch between tabs in whatever web browser he’s using, and has recently learned how to open iTunes and select a movie for his viewing pleasure. Sometimes, when I sit down to watch him play, he does things with our MacBook Pro that I can’t figure out how to undo. At that point, I call for Josh.
In the same vein, Jude learned how to manipulate an iPod Touch over this past week. Josh’s sister Makenzie was visiting, and she was kind enough to let Jude play with hers. He likes the drawing app she has on her Touch and likes to access her playlists and select a song to listen to. Honestly, the kid just gets it. Well, he gets it more than I do, at least.
I forget where I saw these bags advertised, but man oh man, do I want some Blue Avocado reusable grocery bags. Specifically, I want this, the most expensive, kit.
Aren’t they beautiful? And all matchy, to boot.
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Boo. My dear husband left today. He’s leading his youth group’s mission trip to Kentucky, and he won’t return until next Saturday evening. I am sad and a bit overwhelmed. While Jude and I had a lovely day together, I know it would have been even more lovely to have enjoyed it alongside my partner in crime.
This week, I’m eating simply. Some leftovers, lots of sandwiches, and a surprise dinner of enchiladas from my friend upstairs, Tracie! I have great friends, and I’m very, very grateful for them. Here’s what cooking (or reheating!) this week:
Eh. I’m feeling down today.
Jude and I have been having some great days together lately. I’ve been more present and connected with him and have started saying “yes” more. He thrives when I’m in the thick of life with him. He laughs and pretends and has full-on conversations with his toys; he responds to me, helps me, and offers me many kisses.
And then, this morning, he flat out refused to go shopping at the farmers’ market and co-op with me. I was happy Josh was home so that I didn’t have to force him to come with me, but I’ll be honest: I was hurt and sad.
I pressed on–headed out into the muggy heat of this Saturday morning and made my way to the train station. I rode the train to Evanston and shuffled my feet on the way to the market. Then I got there and saw all the amazing fruit for sale, and I just got so much sadder. I wanted my sweet boy by my side. I wanted him to sample all the fresh fruits that were available. I wanted to dance with him. I wanted to share the experience with him. As I left, all I could think about was how nice it would be to have him sitting next to me on the train, eating our entire blueberry purchase before we arrived home.
Here’s my husband:
Handsome devil, isn’t he?
I consider myself to be a very, very lucky woman. When I met Josh, I instantly knew that I had found an incredibly special man. I knew he would be an amazing husband–one who would love me and put up with me for the rest of our lives. When I found out we were expecting, I had no doubt in my mind that Josh would end up being the most wonderful father this world has ever seen.
I wasn’t wrong.
Josh, from both Jude and me, I say thank you. Thank you for being a present and involved father. Thank you for being kind and gentle and for keeping a even temper. Thank you for loving us. You are more than either of us could have asked for, and I think more than we both, at times, deserve.
For blogging sporadically, that is. Yesterday, a neighbor-friend who works at the Apple store, gifted me a power cord for my laptop. If he didn’t have a girlfriend, I would have tongue-kissed him. Josh might have, too.
Chicago has had a ton of wet, dreary days lately. The sun finally made an appearance yesterday, but is only slated to stick around through today before it retreats behind the clouds to make way for MORE RAIN tomorrow. *sigh* At least we’ll have a good excuse to take Jude to see Toy Story 3.
For Fathers’ Day, Jude and I registered Josh to participate in the 17th Annual Artists of the Wall Festival at Loyola Park. Josh will get to design and paint a section of bench, and that painting will stay up for a year–until next year’s festival. Jude and I have a few more tricks up our sleeves for the best Papa in the world; check back early next week for a full account of the celebration!
I recently discovered Green and Crunchy, a blog written by Sheri– a vegan, (mostly) raw food eating, homeschooling, attachment parenting (etc., etc., ) mom of FIVE (with another one on the way!). I’m so, so super impressed by Sheri’s family way of life–how they live simply, eat fantastically, parent gently; that’s how I strive to live.
After reading through a bunch of Sheri’s post of what she and her family is eating, I started making a wish list for myself. It started off with things like a dehydrator and a yogurt maker; you know, things that would help me cook more from scratch, and then it kind of spiraled into an all encompassing “Household Items” wish list. Now, I get that wanting all this, eh, stuff is kind of in direct opposition to living simply. BUT! In my defense, not much of this list is really frivolous (okay, maybe the waffle maker is frivolous). And, this list will likely go unfulfilled for the next ten years or so. It’s a wish list. I’m certainly not going to go out and blow our next few paychecks on these things. Anyway, here goes:
Kitchen
Excalibu 9 Tray Food Dehydrator
Yogurt maker with glass jars
Waffle maker (Cast iron, perhaps? We don’t use any non-stick cookware any more.)
KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Grain mill
Immersion blender
Cotton napkins
Reusable sandwich bags
Reusable snack bags
To-Go Ware for family
Stainless steel/Glass storage container
Cotton napkins
Bathroom(s)
Matching bath towels, hand towels, and wash cloths
Bathroom accessories for both bathrooms
Fabric shower liner for second bathroom
Bath mat for second bathroom
Towel rack/over-the-door rack for second bathroom
New shower head for second bathroom
Bedroom
King-sized comforter
Bed linens
New lamp shade for bedside lamp
Living room/Dining room/Jude’s room
3 Rugs (one each for the living room, dining room, and Jude’s room)
Dining room chairs
Ceiling fan for living room
Outdoors
Patio furniture
Tall stainless steal trash can for porch
